THE two teens who were arrested for the rape of a seven-year-old girl in Bartica Friday last, were charged Tuesday with the offence and will make their next court appearance on December 31.
The two teens appeared in court and were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge. The 15-year-old was remanded to the Juvenile Detention Centre in Sophia while the 18-year-old was remanded to the Lusignan Prison.
Reports indicated that the child’s mother retired to bed just around 22:00hrs Friday last with her youngest child, while the seven-year-old and her brother went to sleep in a separate room.
The mother related that she was awakened at around 03:00hrs and noticed her son in her bed and upon checking on her daughter, she discovered her missing.
The mother of three said neighbours formed a search party since the area was bushy. However, the mother expressed her dissatisfaction over the response of the police who were contacted to help the family in the search.

She was told by the ranks that a missing person’s report will have to be filed after 24 hours before their intervention. Subsequently, two police officers arrived at the location to take the mother to the police station to file the report, but she refused to leave the search for her daughter. The child was later found naked by relatives in a bushy area leading to a creek. The mother wrapped her daughter in a towel and travelled to the police station in an attempt to get the matter sorted out as soon as possible, so she could then transport the child to seek medical attention.
However, because of the delay in taking the statement at the police station, the mother took the seven-year-old to the hospital where she was admitted in a stable condition.
Residents of the community had related that one of the suspects is a known character in the community and was involved in thefts at multiple homes in the district.