Man on sex charges ‘losing everything’

“I am losing everything because I am in prison. I have a contract with the HDC (Housing Development Corporation) and no one is in the house right now.

“My children are suffering because of this (his incarceration),” Johnson said.

The Ste Madeleine resident made the comments before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno, in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court where he reappeared on the charges. PC Sieupersad, of the Child Protection Unit (South), had charged Johnson, 36, with six counts of sexual penetration, two counts of serious indecency and two counts of sexual touching.

Johnson allegedly committed the act at a house in south Trinidad on dates between 2014 and 2016.

On his first court appearance on July 11, acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde-John had granted the accused $85,000 bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace and a cash alternative of $35,000.

Although Johnson was granted bail, he was unable to secure the bail bond and so he remained in prison. Yesterday when the matter came up for hearing in the First Court, Johnson requested a reduction to his bail bond. She reduced the cash alternative to $15,000 and adjourned the case to October 3.