Man gets bail for sexual touching of minor

UPDATED:

A Belmont man was granted $80,000 bail after he appeared before a Port of Spain magistrate charged with the sexual touching of a 13-year-old girl.

Michael Paul, 34, of Upper St Francois Valley Road, Belmont, is accused of committing the acts between February 1 and February 28. Paul appeared before Magistrate Adia Mohammed yesterday and was ordered to return on December 14. He was also ordered not to communicate with the alleged victim or go within 500 metres of her. Paul was charged by acting Cpl Yohan McKain of the Child Protection Unit.

A statement from the police said the Port of Spain Child Protection Unit has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and assaults against children. The unit is supervised by Insp Clement Marshall and Sgts Jacqueline Solomon-Patrice and Michelle Lewis.

The unit has also increased lectures in schools and community groups to heighten awareness as a proactive approach to reduce crime against children, the statement said.