CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday released a 25-year-old North West District man on $350,000 bail for alleged rape.

Stephan Belle, of Water Front, Port Kaituma, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on July 14, 2018, at Kaituma, he engaged in sexual activity with a 12-year-old girl.

He was not represented by an attorney and was subsequently released on $350,000 bail. The matter was transferred to the Mathews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for August 7.
According to reports, the teen and Belle were known to each other and she was lured to his Port Kaituma home. It is alleged that the child was forced into having sex with Belle and she later told her social worker who reported the matter to the police.