A 44-year-old self-proclaimed spiritual healer suffered a mild heart attack yesterday and could not be taken to court to face 91 charges of sexual assault against a 15-year-old.
According to police, the St Joseph man was held after officers of the Fraud Squad completed their investigations into allegations that he was falsely soliciting money from the child’s mother. During investigations police learned that the man was allegedly having sex with the girl between May and August.
Police reports are that the man told the mother of the teenage girl that they were possessed by evil spirits and the only cure was sexual intercourse. The man was not charged with having sex with the teen’s mother. The suspect was scheduled to appear before a Tunapuna magistrate on Thursday but had to be transferred to the Arima Magistrates Court owing to a sewer leak at the courthouse. The matter was not called in Arima after the man claimed to have fallen sick and was taken to hospital.
The matter was then postponed to yesterday. However, police said the suspect again complained of chest pains and was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he is currently warded.
Police say he is expected to be discharged and appear before a Tunapuna magistrate on Monday.
The man was arrested by officers of the Child Protection Unit.