Man who raped, forced 11-Y-O girl to touch his penis jailed for 10 years

Chandralall Lakhraj, the 40-year-old Berbice man found guilty last month of raping and sexually assaulting a minor girl, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Lakhraj called “Uncle Papi” committed the offences against an 11-year-old girl. He was sentenced on Tuesday by Berbice High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds.

According to information received, he was convicted of engaging in sexual penetration with the minor between September 1 and October 9, 2019.

He was also convicted of sexually assaulting her between the aforementioned dates by causing her to touch his penis.

On each of the two charges, the Judge sentenced Lakhraj to 10 years imprisonment but ordered that he is to serve the jail terms concurrently. This means he will only do 10 years.

Following his arraignment before Justice Reynolds, Lakhraj, who was represented by defence counsel Chandra Sohan, had pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He, however, was found unanimously guilty on all two counts by the jurors.

Big Smith News understands that during the periods mentioned in the charges, Lakhraj had the girl “stroke” his penis. He had also inserted his fingers into her vagina.

The minor had confided in her teacher about what happened which led to the Police arresting Lakhraj.

Meanwhile, in his defence, the man had denied raping the girl, claiming that it could not have happened as he was away in neighbouring Suriname working.

State Counsel Nafeeza Baig appeared on behalf of the prosecution.

In her victim impact statement, the rape survivor expressed that the incident “has changed me”, adding that she stays away from strange men.

“I stay far away from them. I feel if I go close to them, they might do me the same thing,” the now teenager wrote.

According to her, she never expected “Uncle Papi” to do this to her. She said she believes he “should punish” for what he did to her. She ended by stating that she is frightened and hurt.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Reynolds told the convicted rapist that he violated the bodily integrity of the girl, causing her indignity and trauma. In condemning Lakhraj’s “despicable” actions, the High Court Judge told him that such behaviours would not be tolerated, especially from “big men” who prey on “little girls”.