3 sex charges against man, 23, dismissed

Three sexual offence charges against a 23-year-old man were dismissed by a master in the High Court (Criminal Division) on October 9. The accused reappeared before master Adia Mohammed for a sufficiency hearing.

At the hearing, the court was expected to receive a statement from a qualified professional assessing whether the alleged 12-year-old victim had the mental capacity to give a credible statement.

However, the master dismissed the case despite the State’s request for an extension of time to obtain the assessment.

The accused, a labourer, had been charged with sexual touching of a child, sexual penetration and exposing a child to pornography.

The charges arose from an incident on May 3, during which the accused and the minor allegedly consumed alcohol together.

He first appeared in court earlier this year, when Master Mohammed granted bail. As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered to report to the Princes Town Police Station every Sunday between 5 am and 8 pm, pending the outcome of the case. Attorney Kiran Panday represented the accused.