By
Administrator
|
Wednesday,
January 16, 2008
Magistrate Fazil
Azeez yesterday granted
a GDF corporal charged
with raping two women
$175,000 bail when he
appeared at the Leonora
Magistrate’s Court.
Herris Simon, 28, of
Lot 9, Uitvlugt Front,
West Coast Demerara (WCD)
was not required to
plead to two counts of
rape. It is alleged that
on November 9, 2006, at
De Kenderen, WCD, he
raped a woman. It is
also alleged that last
Thursday, he raped
another woman.
Simon’s attorney,
Basil Williams, told the
court that “the
girl” had indicated
that she did not want
further action to be
taken against his
client. The magistrate,
however, told him that
the girl would have to
come to the court to say
so.
Neither of the two
virtual complainants
(VC) appeared in court.
In a bail
application, Williams
said Simon is married
and had been in the GDF
for 11 years. He also
said his client had no
previous convictions and
that he is innocent of
the allegations. He said
too that the 2006
alleged incident “has
to be viewed with
suspicion”. Williams
said if the woman who
made the allegation in
2006, was “so sure”,
she would have been in
court. He reiterated
that the other VC had
indicated that she did
not want to proceed with
the matter.
Williams also
submitted that the
offence is bailable and
that his client “comes
with a responsible rank
in the army”. He said
too since Simon works
with a magistrate, there
is no question of him
not appearing. He also
said the accused is
presumed innocent.
Police Prosecutor
Ramsahoye Rambajue said
the prosecution would
not oppose substantial
bail being granted.
Simon was ordered to
return to court on March
11.
