Man accused of raping Berbice pensioner charged, remanded

A 28-year-old man accused of raping a 66-year-old woman during a home invasion was on Wednesday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.
Rohan Muhammad appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy and was not required to plead to the indictment, which alleges that between March 27 and 28, he engaged in sexual penetration with the woman without her consent and without any reasonable belief that she consented.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards told the court that the incident occurred inside the victim’s home during a late-night invasion. According to the prosecutor, the accused was identified by the victim as a previous employee.
It was reported that the accused invaded the pensioner’s Blairmont Settlement, West Bank Berbice, home while armed with a knife. Reports stated that the suspect was known to the woman, having previously worked for her as a labourer.
Edwards further described the attack, which occurred in the most gruesome manner. “He had a knife to her neck,” the prosecutor stated.
On these grounds, he strongly objected to bail, arguing that Muhammed is a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses if released. “He is a repeat offender who would go to neighbouring Suriname. The last time he was sentenced behind his back, he got nine months in August last year, and I was the arresting officer who went to his home and found him hiding under his bed. I took him and handed him over to the prison in New Amsterdam,” Edwards told the court.
Muhammed, while not required to enter a plea, denied involvement and instead blamed a relative. The accused told the court that he and the relative resemble each other and that the Police mixed up their identities.
The prosecutor disputed this, stating that the two do not look alike, but Muhammed maintained his innocence.
In refusing bail, the Magistrate cited the seriousness of the allegation and the likelihood that the accused could interfere with witnesses if granted pre-trial liberty. The matter was adjourned to April 22.