PORT OF SPAIN – The former chairman of the Children’s Authority, Hanif Benjamin, will return to court on January 16 next year after he was placed on TT$170 000 (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) bail after he was slapped with sex charges involving a minor.
Benjamin, a clinical and forensic traumatologist and clinical therapist, who served as chairman of the Authority between 2017-2020, is accused of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and sexual communication with the child. The virtual complainant is a 15-year-old boy.
The charges alleged that he engaged in sexual communication with a child and in a sexual activity in the presence of a child on July 15 via a WhatsApp video call.
The state had initially objected to granting bail to Benjamin, who is currently the director of Social Protection at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), but Master Delicia Bethelmy sitting at the San Fernando Court, south of here, granted bail with conditions that he surrenders his passport and that he is also to have no direct or indirect contact or communication with the alleged victim, witnesses or third parties.
He was ordered to continue to reside at his address and report to the nearest police station, twice a month. Should he move from his address, he is to inform the police.
The Children’s Authority is a specialised agency responsible for the care and protection of children, especially those at risk or who have been victims of abuse or neglect.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred earlier this month. (CMC)
