VISHNU Singh, 24, of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday morning placed on $400,000 bail when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court charged with rape, allegedly committed on a 14-year-old schoolgirl.The appearance of the man came hours after the Director of Public Prosecutions instructed the police to institute the rape charge against him, less than 24 hours after the police had sent the file to the DPP’s Chambers seeking advice.
The expeditious procedures kicked in after Human Services and Social Security Minister, Jennifer Webster wrote Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud expressing her disgust over this recent case of rape, and moreover, the involvement of a policewoman who was attempting to pervert the course of justice by arranging a settlement in the matter, that would have personally benefitted her to the tune of $300,000.
The magistrate yesterday instructed the young man, who is the son of General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Jagnarine Singh, to lodge his passport with the police station. In addition, the accused is expected to report to the police station every Friday until the matter is concluded, or as otherwise instructed by the court.
Following the court appearance, the rape accused sat in the prisoners’ waiting area until his bail was posted. He then covered his face with his shirt and made his way down the stairs of the courthouse into a waiting Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) being driven by his father who was waiting for him in the police station parking lot.
Yesterday, repeated efforts to confirm if the female police rank had been placed on close arrest were not successful. This publication, however, received unconfirmed reports that the woman might have been transferred from the Cove and John Police Station where she was stationed at the time of the investigation when she purportedly attempted to pervert the course of justice.
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Child Care and Protection Agency are paying very close attention to this case which they said is “very disgusting”.