When a full grown man can get released on $5,000 bail after being charged with raping a 2-year-old baby, one could easily perceive that this depreciates the value of our legal system.
In June, a 25 year-old man was given $15,000 bail after being charged with having “unlawful” sexual intercourse with a three year old, and a 40-year-old man was given $15,000 bail for having “unlawful” sexual intercourse with an 11 year old. Also in February, three men, between the ages of 23 – 30, were brought before the courts for having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.
“I agree that we need to look at the penalties involved and sexual abuse against children would be a situation where there probably ought not be bail, but I can’t say that; because in some of these cases, the persons might not be guilty,” the Minister said.
The Minister noted that she is almost ready to present Parliament with the new Child Care and Protection Bill, and hopefully in this proposed legislation, there will be a review of penalties.
In 2004, the police revealed that there were 183 reported cases of unlawful sexual intercourse, an increase of 10 per cent. Police reports indicate that about 38 per cent of the unlawful sexual intercourse reported involved under-aged females being left at home with adult males without the knowledge of a guardian.
“Social Services will not allow a child to be returned to an environment where the perpetrator is or has access to. Right off the top, that is something that will not happen or should not happen. It is adamant that the child not be returned to an environment where the perpetrator has access to the child. Before we allow that again, we would take that child into our care,” she said.
There will be certain amendments to the Children and Young Persons Administration of Justice Act the Minister said, adding also that stiffer penalties for persons committing such crimes against children will be considered.
By: VANESSA C ROLLE, The Nassau Guardian
