Girl, 7, raped

Central Division police were yesterday searching for a 20-year-old man who attacked and raped his seven-year-old relative on the weekend before fleeing the house.

Police sources said that the bleeding child was left so traumatised by the assault that she refused to be medically examined, as is required in law, and she will be taken to a medical centre today where another attempt will be made to medically examine her.

Officials from the Child Protection Unit have been alerted and are conducting their own investigations into the incident.

According to sources, at about 1.20 pm on Saturday the child was at the home of her grandmother in Central Trinidad when her male cousin arrived. When the child left the living room to go to the bathroom, the 20-year-old predator followed her.

Police said that he went into the bathroom, overpowered the child and took her back to the living room where he proceeded to rape her.

The child’s screams alerted the grandmother who ran into the living room to see what happened. As the woman shouted out, the man pulled back on his clothes and ran out of the house.

The victim, accompanied by her 28-year-old mother went to the district police station where a report was made.

The child was taken to the Chaguanas Health Centre where District Medical Officer Dr Indarjit Birjah attempted to examine her but she screamed and fought causing the doctor to call of the examination.

While the child was at the centre, police were already out in search for the suspect who up to press time was still at large.

The child as well as her mother and grandmother will receive counselling from the Police Service’s Victims of Crime Support Unit.

Sources revealed that between May 2015 and December 2016, 601 sexual offence cases involving girls between the age of six and 11, were reported to the Child Protection Unit, while in that same period, 260 cases of sexually assault on boys between the aged of six and 11, were reported.