Emile Elias makes first court appearance on sex-offence charges

CONTRACTOR Emile Elias has made his first court appearance two weeks after he was charged with two sexual offences against a minor.

The 84-year-old was charged on March 10 with sexual grooming and sexual penetration of a minor.

On Wednesday, he appeared virtually before Magistrate Adia Mohammed and the charges were read out to him. He was not called to enter a plea and the prosecution’s summary of evidence was disclosed to him.

His $100,000 station bail was not varied and Elias is expected to reappear on May 19.

According to the charges, Elias, owner of NH International, which has several contracts with the Government, is accused of meeting with a 17-year-old girl between September 1 and November 30, 2019, with the intent of grooming her for penetration.

On November 21, 2019, it is alleged that Elias, of Fairways, Maraval, penetrated the child. The offences are alleged to have taken place at his office at Long Circular Road, St James.Elias is being represented by Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson and Pamela Elder and attorney John Heath.

When he was first charged, Elias issued a statement through the advertising agency Ample declaring his innocence.

The statement said Elias “completely refutes in the strongest possible terms the allegations made against him.

“He looks forward to establishing his innocence under the due process of law.”

The statement said since the matter was before the court, and hence sub judice, Elias could not make any further comments on the allegations.