Georgetown: Mahadeo Ramnarine, 49, called “Dougla” of Betsy Ground, East Canje, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on Monday after he was found guilty of raping a 13-year-old boy who had left his home to run an errand for his mother.
On August 14, 2010, the shirtless lad rode off with his father’s bicycle to collect milk from another village. But on his return, he saw the accused and another male seated under a tamarind tree.
The other male ran towards him, pulling him off the bicycle, whilst ‘tearing’ off his underwear, even as the child called for help. The accused placed the underwear in his mouth, along with a white tablet, before tying his hands behind his back with a rope. He was then placed to lie on his abdomen, before the men took turns in raping him before leaving him bound and walking away.
As a result of the incident, the teenager remains traumatised and has had to seek mental health intervention at the National Psychiatric Hospital.
Following the incident, the teen was found by an elderly woman who went to pick tamarind. He was taken to the Police station, and reported that Ramnarine and another man had committed the act on him.
The teenager reported that he fell unconscious when the second man raped him. The teen, in his testimony, told the court that Ramnarine told him that since he was bleeding he could not keep him alive because he was going to report the incident.
He said he felt he was going to die, but the elderly woman who found him saved his life.
Ramnarine was found guilty of the act by a mixed Berbice jury. In a probation report on Ramnarine, which was ordered by the court, Probation and Welfare Officer Judith Vankennie told the court that the accused was previously placed before the Reliance Magistrate’s’ Court on an assault charge and was fined $15,000. He was also previously charged for abusive language and felonious wounding, but those charges were dismissed.
Prosecuting on behalf of the State was Ms. Tuanna Hardy.
Questioned by Justice Brassington Reynolds as to why the penalty of life imprisonment should not be imposed, Ramnarine responded, “Me nah know nothing.”
“Well for my part Ramnarine, I continue to be baffled by your unruffled attitude … You have committed a heinous crime. You have defiled a young man, and stripped him of his innocence… You have been able to go on with your life, but the young man remains traumatised by this experience …You have shown no remorse and continue to deny the offence. After committing the act, you left the lad, hoping to return at nightfall to dispose of his body. I have sentenced you to 18 years,” the judge said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.