Religious leader accused of raping 17-year-old

A religious leader in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has been arrested and a probe has been launched by Police into the alleged rape of a 17-year-old lad.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 24, following a religious function at a relative’s home.
In a statement on Wednesday, Police said, “It is alleged that the suspect used his religious standing to gain the confidence of family at a religious function, where he dismissed the other family members before committing the act.”
The matter was reported to the Police and the suspect has been arrested.
More than two weeks ago, the Guyana Police Force released crime statistics for the period January 1 to September 6, 2021, which, when compared to the same period last year, show a 47.5 per cent increase in rape cases.
The total number of rape cases for the year so far stands at 208, compared to last year’s figure of just about 141 cases. (G9)