Pastor on rape charges PASTOR Bernard Andrews, of the Dow Village Open Bible Church in South Oropouche, yesterday appeared before a Siparia magistrate and was granted $300,000 bail to cover two charges of rape. Andrews, 47, of Park Ridge #1 Gambal Street in Siparia appeared before Magistrate Armina Deonarinesingh in the Second Court, where she read out the charges against him. The charges alleged that on two dates between July 31, 2010 and October 1, 2010, Andrews raped a woman at a house in Siparia. Both charges were laid indictably and therefore the accused pastor was not called upon to plead. When the case was called, Andrews was without an attorney and informed the magistrate that he had surrendered to police yesterday morning on learning that warrants were out for his arrest. Andrews added that on this basis, he had little time to seek legal representation and so someone was “organising” one for him. The accused man’s attorney Earl Martin James subsequently arrived and told the court that the accused was married and a father of one. In his application for bail, James added that his client voluntarily gave himself up to police and had neither previous convictions nor pending matters. Court prosecutor Sgt Sheldon Ablacksingh did not object to bail being granted but requested that conditions to the bond be attached so that there is no communication whatsoever with the virtual complainant (alleged victim). Neither the virtual complainant (the victim) nor relatives of the accused pastor were present in court. Deonarinesingh later granted Andrews the $300,000 bail which she said is to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace. James interjected saying that it is the Yuletide Season and asked the magistrate to “revisit the quantum” and reduce the bail amount. However, Deonarinesingh rejected the attorney’s application and ordered the accused pastor to refrain from communicating whether directly or indirectly with the virtual complainant. The charges against Andrews alleged that he committed the act on a person who at the time was legally a minor. The victim is now 18 years old. The case was adjourned to January 12.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:57:54 +0000
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