Three of four teenagers accused of sexually penetrating a child under the age of 18 and sexually touching a child under 16 were granted bail when they appeared before a San Fernando magistrate yesterday.
The four, all from Embacadere, San Fernando, appeared before Magistrate Ava Vandenburg-Bailey in the San Fernando Fifth Court yesterday.
Attorney Analee Girwar represented three of the accused, two 17-year-old and one 15-year-old while attorney Selwyn Richardson represented the fourth, another 15-year-old.
The parents of all the accused were present in court. Woman corporal in the Child Protection Unit, Kerry Ann Figaro-Cedeno, who charged the teens, was also present in court.
According to police reports the victim, a 14-year-old girl, was standing along the shoreline along Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando, on Friday night near the Hatters panyard when she was attacked, dragged to the beach and raped by the four suspects.
The victim later made a report to the San Fernando Police Station, where a medical examination confirmed she had been sexually assaulted. The teens were arrested on Saturday.
In an application for bail, Girwar told the court one of her clients, an IT student, had one pending matter for shooting with intent but he lives with his mother and sisters in Embacadere.
Court prosecutor Krishna Bedassie objected to bail, stating the teen committed the offences while on bail for another offence.
Vandenburg-Bailey denied the 17-year-old bail but told Girwar she could apply to a judge in chambers for bail.
Girwar said the other 17-year-old accused was awaiting CXC results and also lived with his parents. She said he runs track and field in his spare time.
She said her youngest client was a Form Three student with no pending or previous matters and also lives with his parents.
Vandenburg-Bailey granted them $75,000 bail each with the condition that they report to the San Fernando Police Station every Saturday.
Richardson’s client was also granted $75,000 bail with the same condition as his other two co-accused.
Girwar requested a cash alternative and Vandenburg-Bailey granted them a $40,000 cash alternative to the bail.
Vandenburg-Bailey adjourned the matter to September 22 and transfered it to the San Fernando First Court.