Miner slapped with child rape charge

A 25-year-old miner from the North Pakaraimas, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), appeared in court on Wednesday facing charges of raping a child under the age of 16.
The charge, laid under Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03, was read to the man during a virtual hearing before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court via Zoom. The accused was not required to enter a plea at this stage.
He was granted bail in the sum of $200,000, with strict conditions that he not interact or communicate with the victim and that he report to the Mahdia Police Station on the last Friday of every month. The matter has been adjourned to January 29.
Just two weeks ago, a 29-year-old man from Corentyne, Region Six, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy.
Sanjay Peters, of Williamsburg, Corentyne, was found guilty of assaulting the child on two separate occasions in 2018. His conviction, delivered by a jury at the Berbice High Court in December 2025, came after a trial presided over by Justice Sandil Kissoon.
During sentencing, Senior Social Services Officer Judith Fulton highlighted a lack of community trust in Peters, particularly regarding the safety of children.
Justice Kissoon emphasised the seriousness of the offences, noting that abuse of trust and violence against minors would not be tolerated. He further stated that there were no mitigating factors and that Peters, who continues to deny the charges, is not fit to be part of society. The court also ordered that Peters participate in rehabilitation programmes while incarcerated.