A 31-year-old Tacarigua man was yesterday denied bail when he appeared before Arima Senior Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes, charged with a string of offences arising out of the rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl.
Maniram Balgobin, who police said is unemployed, stood before in the Arima First Court when six charges were read to him. He was not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably. He was also charged with house breaking and entering and larceny at a house in Chaguanas. That matter was transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court.
Balgobin, of Dinsley Village, was charged with rape, kidnapping, two counts of grievous sexual assault, two counts of robbery and assault with intent to rob. The offences allegedly occurred on March 12 at Dinsley Village, Tacarigua.
In objecting to bail, Court prosecutor Sgt Fitzgerald Johnson told Ramoo-Haynes the charges were very serious in nature. Ramoo-Haynes agreed, reminded the accused of his right to apply to a judge in chambers for bail, remanded him into custody and adjourned the matter to April 1.
Throughout the short hearing, Balgobin remained in silence.
According to police, the victim, a secondary school pupil, was walking along a track near Dinsley Junction around 8.30 p.m. on March 12, when a man approached, placed his hands in his pockets, and pretended he had a gun. The victim was ordered to continue walking, while her siblings ran off. She was taken to a nearby river and assaulted and robbed.
