A High Court judge yesterday poured scorn on a man who repeatedly raped a nine-year-old relative, sending him to jail for 15 years.
By DARREN BAHAWTeerathraj Maharaj, 40, shrugged his shoulders at his wife sitting in the public gallery as he was being led away.
Maharaj, a vendor and taxi-driver, of Western Main Road, St James, was found guilty on Thursday of attempting to rape the young girl on June 29, 1998, and actually raping her on six consecutive days, after his failed attempt.
Justice Holdip told the prisoner he had exploited his position of trust and although there was no direct evidence, the victim would have been psychologically scarred by his conduct.
The judge said he would not take into account two previous convictions of cocaine possession, in 1999 and 2000, recorded against the prisoner and wondered whether the prisoner had turned to cocaine after the allegations of rape were made against him.
He said there were no mitigating factors in the prisoner's favour but several aggravated factors, including the fact the victim had been repeatedly raped, indecently assaulted and was very young.
Justice Holdip said the victim was robbed of her innocence by a person who should have cared for her and that tampering with children was a matter of grave concern.
On the charge of attempting to rape the child, Maharaj was sentenced to five years in prison and on the six counts of having sex with the child he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for each offence. All the sentences are to run together.
Her attacker preyed on the victim while she was ill, taking advantage even as his wife slept in the next room.
The jury, comprising five women and four men, deliberated for just over two hours before returning a unanimous verdict. State attorneys Debbie Ann Bassaw and Angelica Teelucksingh prosecuted, while Ryan Cameron represented the accused.
