Man found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with girl, 13

32-year-old Mark Samuels has been found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Earlier this week, the jury in a proportion of 10-2, convicted him of the crime committed against a 13-year-old girl on January 27, 2021, in the county of Demerara.

Samuels was tried before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara Sexual Offences Court.

On the day in question, Samuels touched the girl inappropriately before raping her (vaginal penetration), even as she tried pushing him off of her.

After the ordeal, the girl told her mother what transpired, and a report was made to the Police. As a result, Samuels was arrested, charged and later convicted of the crime.

Following his conviction, the Judge revoked Samuels’ bail and fixed his sentencing hearing for July 13. Attorneys-at-Law Tiffini Lyken and Nafeeza Baig prosecuted this matter.

In 2021, Samuels was charged with stealing 66 COVID-19 vaccination cards from the Health Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown office. At that time, he worked as a driver at the said ministry.

The charges were however dismissed the following year for want of prosecution.