By Sue-Ann Wayow
A WOMAN and a man who allegedly attempted to have sex with their 13-year-old daughter have been charged.
They appeared before the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with a series of sexual offences and have been ordered to stay away from the child.
The mother was granted $350,000 bail with a surety to cover the charges of cruelty to a child and inciting a child to engage in sex. The stepfather was also granted $350,000 to cover the charge of sexual touching of a child, a release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) on Tuesday stated.
They were instructed to report to their local police station two days per week, have no communication with the girl directly or indirectly or through a third party, not to visit her school or at her present address and to remain 800 metres away from her at all times.
The bail conditions were set by Magistrate Adrian Darmanie and the case adjourned to June 6.
The couple was arrested on April 6 by officers of the Rio Claro Task Force and later charged with the offences by PC Vijay Ramkissoon of the Central Division Child Protection Unit (CPU).
According to a police report, at 4.15 pm on April 6, a girl was at home when a woman and a man whom she knew allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activities with her.
The girl told CPU detectives that she refused and was subsequently assaulted.
An investigation was launched which resulted in the arrest of the suspects who were later charged with the offences.
Father charged for having sex with daughter
A 46-year-old man was remanded into custody on Monday after appearing before a Siparia Magistrate charged with five sexual offences against his daughter.
The incidents allegedly occurred during a four-year period. The accused, who can apply for bail in Judge’s chamber, will reappear before the court on June 7. He was arrested and charged on Monday, by acting Cpl Fairley of the South-Western Division Child Protection Unit (CPU) with three counts of sexual penetration and one count of common assault and cruelty to a child respectively.
According to a police report in February 2021, a woman and her daughter told CPU detectives that during the period 2017-2021, the girl was allegedly subjected to sexual acts by her father. The girl told police that she was made to have sexual intercourse against her will.
Following further enquires, the suspect was charged with the five offences.
