A 28-year-old man accused of raping a pensioner during a terrifying late-night home invasion appeared before the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was remanded to prison.
Rohan Muhammed, who was known to the 66-year-old victim having previously carried out work at her home, was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The charge alleges that between March 27 and 28, he engaged in sexual penetration with the woman without her consent and without any reasonable belief that she consented.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards told Magistrate Tuanna Hardy that the attack occurred at approximately 23:50h inside the victim’s Blairmont Settlement, West Bank Berbice home, where she lives alone. According to the prosecutor, the accused who was unmasked held a knife to the woman’s neck before carrying out the assault. The victim positively identified Muhammed as her attacker.
Edwards strongly objected to bail, describing Muhammed as a flight risk who posed a danger to witnesses. He told the court that the accused was a repeat offender with a history of fleeing to neighbouring Suriname, and recalled having to locate him hiding under his bed at his home prior to a previous nine-month sentence handed down in August last year.
Muhammed denied any involvement, instead pointing blame at his brother, telling the court, “Mam, is not me, is me brother. Me brother go in pon this lady, he does do this thing steady.” He claimed he and his brother bore a strong resemblance to each other and that he had once brought his sibling to the property to assist with work. The prosecutor disputed this, stating that the two do not look alike.
Magistrate Hardy refused bail, citing the gravity of the allegation and the risk that the accused could interfere with witnesses if released. The matter was adjourned to April 22.
The incident sent shockwaves through the quiet Blairmont community and has renewed concerns about the safety of elderly residents particularly those living alone in the region.
