BUSINESMAN Emile Elias, 84, has appeared virtually in court on Wednesday for the first time after being charged with grooming and raping a 17-year-old.
He was not called upon to plead as his charges were read by Port-of-Spain Magistrate Adia Mohammed. He was granted $100,000 bail by a Justice of the Peace (JP) after being charged.
Mohammed also certified the bail bond issued by the JP and chose not to vary it.
At the hearing, police prosecutors disclosed the summary of evidence against Elias to his team of attorneys.
Elias is being represented by Gilbert Peterson, SC, Pamela Elder, SC, and John Heath.
He is expected to reappear in court on May 19.
Elias, chairman of his construction company NH International was also the former chairman of the Telecommunication Services of T&T(TSTT) is accused of sexually penetrating the teenager in St James in November 2019.
Elias who lives at Fairways Maraval is also charged with grooming the minor for several months before the alleged attack.
