Charlieville man granted $150,000 bail on rape charge

A CHARLIEVILLE man accused of attempting to rape a woman who asked to make a phone call when her taxi broken down on the highway, last month, has been granted $150,000 bail.

Richard Branker, 58, appeared before Chaguanas Magistrate Adrian Darmanie on Friday, charged with attempted rape, grievous sexual assault, and detaining a person with the intent to have sexual intercourse.

He was represented by attorney Bhimal Maharajh and was not called on to enter a plea for the charges which were laid indictably.

In his bail application, Maharajh said Branker was a single father of four children; the youngest being 23 who lives with him whom he supports financially.

He said Branker was a security guard, and willingly surrendered to police. Darmanie granted Branker bail to be approved and gave him a cash alternative of $15,000. He is to report to the Chaguanas police station every Wednesday and will return to court on April 9.

Branker was arrested on Wednesday relative to a report of an attempted rape that allegedly took place on February 21.

It is alleged that a woman went to a co-worker’s home in Charlieville to make a phone call when a man dragged her into his bedroom and attempted to perform sexual acts on her without her consent.

The woman escaped and reported the incident to the Chaguanas police and was taken for medical attention.