FORTY-SEVEN-year-old Andrew Hannibale of Benneth Dam, Rosignol, West Coast Berbice, pleaded not guilty to a rape indictment before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a mixed jury at the Berbice Assizes on Tuesday.

The indictment, which was read by the court’s registrar, revealed that between January 29 and 31, 2016, in the County of Berbice, he engaged in sexual penetration of a child aged 15 years.
The in camera trial will commence on Wednesday after defence counsel Arun Gossai sought an adjournment.

Hannibale, was initially remanded to prison following his initial court appearance before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Blairmont Court. However, he was granted $200,000 bail after police failed to file proposed additional charges.

Meanwhile, the religious leader, who is the founder of the Faith Deliverance Ministries, which has several branches nationally allegedly betrayed his position of trust.

In the lower court, the police said between Friday 29 and 30, January last, a sibling awoke and discovered that the teenager was not in her bed. As a result, their parents were informed and a search was carried out. The 15-year-old secondary school student was seen in an outhouse. Responding to questions, she said she was with the pastor.

Further, a report was made at the Blairmont Police Station after which the child was seen and examined by a medical practitioner, who indicated that she had been sexually violated.