Taxi driver slapped with rape charge

The suspect in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl from Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has been charged and remanded to prison.
Maurice Johnson, a taxi driver, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Monday and was remanded to prison until October 19.
Reports are the incident allegedly took place on August 12. However, the defendant turned himself in to Police a little over a week ago after reportedly eluding the lawmen for some time. The prosecution is contending that the 12-year-old, who attended an event with three friends, caught a taxi of the type commonly called a ‘0 car’ or ‘short drop car’ at Co-op Crescent, Mackenzie, Linden about 22:00h to go to her home. According to the prosecution, the taxi driver reportedly drove past the destination. The three friends who were seated in the back seat reportedly forced their way out of the car, leaving the victim who was seated in the front seat. The victim was reportedly taken to a lonely road at Lower Kara Kara by the taxi driver where she was allegedly forced out of the vehicle and sexually assaulted. The suspect reportedly then dropped the victim off at the Kara Kara bridge where she was left to walk home. The family of the victim was said to be looking for her after her friends alerted them as to what transpired. She was taken to the Linden Police Station, then to the hospital for medical examination.