A 72-year-old pensioner accused of raping a ten-year-old girl must pay $35,000 in cash if he is to be released from custody. Wahid Ali, of Ruth Avenue, San Fernando, was granted the cash bail when he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington. The police claimed he befriended the girl and had sex with her in his house on a date unknown last month. He was arrested last Thursday night and subsequently charged by WPC Serah-James Dindial of the San Fernando Police Station.
Saying Ali was a pensioner, a first-time offender and lived with his son and daughter-in-law, his attorney Kevin Ratiram asked for cash bail. He also asked the magistrate to consider his client’s age and that he had numerous medical complaints. The magistrate said it was a serious charge and the victim was ten. He initially set bail at $40,000 cash deposit but Ratiram asked for $30,000. The magistrate granted $35,000 cash bail and adjourned the matter to June 7.