Taxi driver on rape charge denied bail

A Freeport taxi driver yesterday appeared before Chaguanas magistrate Sherene Murray-Bailey charged with six offences including the abduction and rape of a 32-year-old woman. The charges against Mahendra Sookhan alleged that on Thursday last, at Chickland Village, Freeport, he took the woman against her will and raped her. The 34-year-old man is also charged with committing grievous sexual assault on the woman.

PC Avinash Sookai of the Freeport CID laid the charges.

It is alleged the woman entered a Nissan B14 car at St. Mary’s Junction, Freeport shortly after 8 am but was taken by the driver to a bushy area near Freeport where he raped her.

Attorney Taradath Singh, who represented Sookhan, said his client works as a taxi driver. He has been working the St Mary’s/Freeport route for several years. Singh said Sookhan had been in custody since last Thursday.

Prosecutor Sgt Pooran Bisnath, in objecting to bail, told the magistrate the offences were serious. He added Sookhan may be deemed a high risk prisoner if granted bail.

However, Singh said, while the offences were serious, it was not a substantive ground for bail to be denied. Sookhan was remanded into police custody and advised of his rights to apply to a judge in chambers for bail.

The matter was adjourned to today.