CITY Magistrate, Ann McLennan on Monday remanded Mark Williamson and Ronica Clarke who were charged for the sexual exploitation of a fifteen-year-old in the interior and forcing her into sex work.Williamson, a 48-year-old businessman of Lot 177 Haslington, East Coast Demerara and vendor Ronica Clarke, 26, of Lot 1047 Fourth field, Cane Grove, East Bank Demerara were not required to plead to the indictable charge.

The charge against Williamson stated that from May 24 to June 26 at Ekereku, Essequibo, he engaged in trafficking in person, whereby he harboured an underage female for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Clarke, the mother of three minor children, was charged for recruiting and transporting the underage female by the means of deception for sexual exploitation.

The businessman’s lawyer, Mr. Paul Fung-a Fat, told the court that his client has a shop in the interior. The lawyer further stated that Williamson has no knowledge of the trafficking in person charge.

However, Prosecutor Deniro Jones revealed that the young girl was lured by the two accused by means of trickery and was locked and not allowed to leave whereby she was forced to have sex with a stranger.
Jones objected to the duo being granted bail on the grounds of the nature, gravity and penalty attached to the charge.

Bail was refused by Magistrate McLennan and the defendants were remanded to prison until September 17, when they will make an appearance at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.