Taxi driver found guilty of raping girl, 12

A 32-year-old taxi driver was on Friday found guilty by a 12-member jury of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2019.

Sahadeo Pooran, known as “Omesh”, was on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court for the offence which stated that on September 27, 2019, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child, who is under the age of 16.

After the jury delivered the unanimous guilty verdict, Justice Barlow remanded Pooran to jail until he is sentenced on March 24, 2021. The Judge also ordered that a probation report is prepared in his favour.

The State was represented by prosecutor Sarah Martin and Nafeeza Baig, while Pooran was represented by attorney-at-law, Euclin Gomes.

According to reports, on the day in question, the child left home at about 08:00h for school. Pooran stopped his car and offered her a “free drop” to which she agreed. During the journey, Pooran picked up two other persons, dropped them off, and then took to the victim to a house.

He reportedly held onto the child’s hands and forced her into the house. The court heard that Pooran locked the child inside the house and left. During that time, the child tried to escape but the window and doors were tightly locked as the window had a wooden bar on them.

The child picked up an electronic tablet and learnt Pooran’s name. An hour later Pooran returned, placed a mattress on the ground and pushed the victim on it after which he raped her.

After the incident, the child went to school and her teacher summoned her parents, during which she said she was raped.

The matter was reported to the police and Pooran was arrested.