Six teenage schoolboys were yesterday granted a total of $320,000 in bail when they appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate charged with having sex with a 12-year-old.The boys, who all appeared separately, were not called upon to plea when they appeared before Magistrate Debbie Ann Bassaw in the Tenth Court.They were each charged individually with having sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 14.The incidents were alleged to have occurred at different days last month at several locations in Port-of-Spain.
The boys, who are between 15 to 17 years old, were arrested at their homes in Laventille, San Juan and St James by officers of the Besson Street Police Station on Sunday evening.Five of the boys were granted $50,000 bail with a surety, while one was granted $70,000 bail by Bassaw.One of the boys was represented by defence attorney Nicholas Clarke while the others represented themselves.When the matter was called yesterday by Bassaw, the courtroom was cleared of all members of the public besides the boys' family members, as they are minors.
The charges were laid by WPC Jones of the Besson Street CID. Meanwhile, three other teenage suspects are expected to appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates' Court later today to face similar charges or having sexual intercourse with the same 12-year-old girl.
