OVER a year ago Police Lance Corporal 17370 Huford David of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, was slapped with a human- trafficking charge.

The 36-year-old convict was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Particulars of the offence said, between January 1 and 31, 2013, he engaged in trafficking a 14-year-old female juvenile to Kukumu, Mazaruni River, for sexual exploitation.
David was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Ms. Latchmie Rahamat and Mr. Peter Hugh. In a plea for mitigation, Ms. Rahamat pleaded that her client had had an impeccable record while he was a member of the Police Force. She added that he is father of four minor children and is the sole breadwinner for his family.
Defence counsel asked the court to temper justice with mercy and to deliver a sentence that is reasonable.
However, the chief magistrate took into consideration both the mitigating and the aggravating factors before sentencing. The aggravating factors include: the fact that the victim is of a tender age; the convict being the mastermind of the offence and the need to send a strong message to both the offender and any other person contemplating such an act. As it relates to the mitigating factors, the court also considered that David appeared to be remorseful; the father of minor children; the sole breadwinner for his family and the time he spent on remand.
After the former police officer was sentenced, Mr. Hugh gave the court an oral notice of appeal and requested that his client be admitted to bail during the appeal. The bail application was refused by the chief magistrate.
On his first appearance in court on April 25, 2013, the court had heard that David offered the virtual complainant and her sister a job in a bar while making an offer for her to do other business. He told the teen she must collect two ounces of raw gold or $20,000 from every man she slept with and hand over the payments to a shopkeeper named “Rankin” to keep.

After the girl had accumulated gold and cash, she made contact with the shopkeeper and demanded her money and gold; the shopkeeper informed her that he did not have anything for her. She then took David to “Rankin” and the latter could only account for less.
She then left the place where David took her to work and contact was made with the Guyana Women Miners Association and subsequently, the matter was reported.

David was denied bail on his first court hearing and spent 15 days on remand, after which he managed to secure bail.

(By Geeta Rampersaud)