Senior Reporter
derek.achong@guardian.co.tt
A taxi driver from Tobago has been freed of charges for allegedly raping a passenger due to delays in prosecuting his case.
Royson Caesar was discharged by High Court Master Delicia Bethelmy as his case came up for sufficiency hearing yesterday.
Guardian Media understands that although Caesar and his attorney, Amit Mahabir, were present for the virtual hearing, State prosecutors assigned to the case and the police officer who charged him were not.
Master Bethelmy decided to discharge Caesar under Rule 5.9(5)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2023, which permits such action in circumstances where prosecutors fail to meet court deadlines and fail to seek an extension.
Master Bethelmy noted that the last hearing of the case in August had to be vacated due to the absence of the police complainant.
She said that since the last hearing, the indictment had not been served on Caesar, and prosecutors had also failed to abide by a court order over the filing of evidence against him.
She pointed out that there was no evidence before her under, which she could commit Caesar to stand trial for the charges.
The charges against Caesar stemmed from an alleged incident on October 14, 2021.
The alleged victim boarded Caesar’s taxi at the Port Mall in Scarborough and asked to be dropped off at the Gulf City Mall in Lowlands.
The woman claimed that Caesar took her to his apartment located near the mall.
She claimed that he offered her an alcoholic beverage, and she only consumed a minuscule amount.
She alleged that he raped her before allowing her to leave.
Two days later, the woman made a report at the Shirvan Police Station.
When Caesar was arrested by the police days later, he denied any wrongdoing as he claimed that the sexual activity was consensual.
Caesar, who had a clean criminal record at the time, was charged with grievous sexual assault and rape.
He was released on $100,000 bail and made several court appearances before his case was listed for the sufficiency hearing.
