3 on rape, buggery charges

Cousins Sharaz Mohammed, 23, and Sadiq Mohammed, 24, and Brandon Basdeo, 24, stood before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John who read four charges. The cousins are from Pluck Road in San Francique while Basdeo who is a PH driver, is from Sahadeo Avenue, Gopie Trace in Penal. One charge read that the three abducted the woman at Cipero Street in San Fernando last Saturday. Another charge was that the men raped her, while a third was that they buggered the woman and the final charge was one of robbery.

Cpl Roger Nanan of San Fernando CID laid the charges against the three who were not called upon to plead. Attorney Martin Jadoonanan, who represented Basdeo, asked for bail to be granted while attorney Ainsley Lucky who appeared for Sharaz, also made a similar plea. Sadiq was unrepresented. Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan told Magistrate Forde-John that the police need to conduct a tracing on the cousins in order to verify if they have a criminal record as police believe they have charges pending.

“Your Worship, I am objecting under the Bail Act 6 (2) (f), which states that a person who commits an offence whilst on bail relating to another offence, should be refused bail.” Magistrate Forde- John said that she was refusing bail to Sharaz and Sadiq, pending a determination of their criminal record. When the magistrate made the order, Sadiq told her that if he must be remanded into custody, he wanted to be sent to the Maximum Security Prison.

He said he is fearful for his life because his twin brother who is in jail, had an altercation with a prison officer. Sadiq also told the magistrate that he came out from jail five months ago. As for accused Basdeo, Seedan objected to bail being granted on the ground that the charges are serious and the offences were prevalent in society, adding that a gun was allegedly used in the commission of the crime.

The magistrate granted Basdeo $175,000 bail to cover the four charges. As a condition to the bail, he is report to the Penal CID three times a week. She remanded Sharaz and Sadiq into custody.

Basdeo and Sadiq are to return to court on March 17 while Sharaz is to return next Wednesday.