ONE man is in police custody assisting in a probe involving a sex act said to have occurred between a 10–year old girl and a man reported to be in his thirties.
Police say that charges are expected to be laid against the man anytime soon. However, prior to press time, no charges were laid.
The incident is reported to have occurred on Monday at Vigie Beach.
The incident has been widely discussed for the past three days with many people calling for the man to be castrated while others called on the justice system to reject any form of arrangement the man might make with the child’s family members.
Meanwhile the police press relations office has warned would-be child sex abusers about what the law says regarding sexual intercourse with children, particularly children under 12 years old and those between 12 and 16 years old.
According to the press office, a person who has sexual intercourse with another who is under the age of 12 years, whether or not the other person consented and whether or not the first-mentioned person believes that the other person is 12 years of age or more, commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.
The press office further noted that sexual intercourse with a person between 12 and 16 years of age who is not the spouse of the first-mentioned person; and is 12 years of age or more but has not attained the age of 16 years, commits an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for 15 years.
The police press office made the distinction between rape and the sex with minors by also stating what the law says where rape is concerned which is that any person who has sexual intercourse with another without the consent of that other; or without believing that the other consents to such intercourse or is reckless as to whether the other person consents or not, commits the offence of rape and is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.