Andrew Bhola, a 25-year-old mason of New Amsterdam in Berbice, has been charged with rape committed on a 13-year-old girl who had reportedly run away from her Georgetown home after being sexually abused by her stepfather.
Following his appearance before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court in East Canje Berbice on Wednesday, Bhola has been remanded to prison until March 11.
Remanded: Andrew Bhola
The child’s mother had taken to social media to report that her daughter had gone missing; and based on information received, police ranks proceeded to Bhola’s home and found the girl on his bed.
Both he and the child were escorted to the Central Police Station, where the girl was interviewed by an officer from the Gender-Based Violence Unit. During that interview, the girl disclosed that on Monday, January 20, she left home for school, but instead travelled to New Amsterdam to meet Bhola, whom she had met on TikTok last year.
The girl detailed that during her stay at Bhola’s residence, they engaged in sexual intercourse on three occasions.
Further, she disclosed that she had been sexually abused by her 38-year-old stepfather at her home in Georgetown.
She stated that the matter had been reported at the Brickdam Police Station, but since her stepfather still resides at the home and no one believed her claims, she had repeatedly run away from home, and had engaged in relationships with older men.
Further, she disclosed that this incident marks the fourth time she had run away from home.
