Latest update September 11th, 2026 10:26 AM
May 16, 2018 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
A 55-year old man was yesterday sentenced to a term of seven years imprisonment after he was convicted by a jury for engaging in sexual activity with a nine-year-old girl.
Two weeks ago, Maurice Fernandes was convicted by a jury with a majority verdict of 10 guilty to two not guilty. Between October 1 and 31, 2016, he engaged in sexual activity with the minor, whose genitals he rubbed.
In arriving at a sentence for Fernandes, Justice Jo Ann Barlow started at a base of eight years. The judge deducted a year for mitigating factors in favour of Fernandes.
In a victim impact statement, the young girl expressed that at first she was afraid to report the abuse to her mother because she did not want Fernandes to “get in trouble” or be sent to prison. The victim revealed that she is now happy that the matter has been resolved.
Abigail Gibbs led the case for the State, in association with Narissa Leander.
The trial was heard in-camera in the Sexual Offences Courtroom at the High Court in Georgetown.
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Sep 11, 2026
– Elite U17 competition to run simultaneously as new feature (Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-17 Youth Ensemble Programme will kick off nationally this weekend,...Sep 11, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – This time, I went to Guru, I asked him what I thought was the most important question of all. “Guru,” I said, “what is happiness?” He smiled. “You have come a long way to ask a very difficult question.” “Isn’t happiness simply being happy?” “No,” he...Sep 06, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – The world has broken the 1.5°C promise it made to its most vulnerable countries. The breach has not yet been recorded on a sustained basis, but the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says it is widely assessed as unavoidable and likely within the...Sep 11, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – The best manner in which Guyana’s indigenous can be honored in this their Heritage Month is through a credible Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the MV Barima catastrophe. An avoidable tragedy now written in blood on the books of Guyana. The callous, reckless, and...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com