Self-confessed ‘Bishop’, Joseph Persaud who was late last year accused of raping one of his female church members was on Tuesday slapped with a rape charge and taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Joseph Persaud during his appearance in court on Tuesday
The 37-year-old man, of Lot 62 Avenue A, New Scheme, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was arraigned for raping a 23-year-old woman when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
In court on Tuesday, he was granted $350,000 bail. As a condition of bail, he was required to surrender his passport to the court and stay 50 feet away from the Virtual Complainant (VC) and her relatives, as well as all witnesses in the matter. Additionally, he is also required to report to the Ruimveldt Police Station on a weekly basis. The case will continue on January 18, 2018.
Reports are Persaud, who officiates at a church in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was arrested on November 9, 2017 and taken to the Grove Police Station, where he was informed that a rape allegation had been made against him.
The victim on national television admitted that she and the pastor shared a relationship, but after his wife reportedly found out, it ended. She claimed that the pastor had stalked her since the relationship ended and continued to harass her.
On the night of the incident, the victim alleged he stripped her and had sexual intercourse with her against her will.
A report was made to the Police and Persaud was arrested.
Since his arrest, several recordings of phone conversations allegedly between the two were leaked to the media.
On one of the recordings, the voice of a male, purportedly the pastor, was heard begging for the victim to drop the case.
After an initial file was compiled on the matter and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, it was recommended that Persaud be released on station bail.
The DPP also requested additional information from the Police pertaining to several aspects of the case, and the file was subsequently resent.
The final advice was for the pastor to be charged.
