By Alric Lindsay
Malik Emmanuel Druitt Varona appeared before Justice Richards in the Grand Court today, March 6, 2026, where he entered not guilty pleas to six serious sexual offence charges involving a 13-year-old girl.
The charges relate to alleged incidents between 26 May and 8 June 2025. Strict media reporting restrictions remain in place to safeguard the identity of the child and the location of the alleged incidents.
The counts are as follows:
- Count 1: Indecent assault by touching the girl’s breast.
- Count 2: Inviting a child to engage in sexual activity by asking her to touch his penis.
- Count 3: Indecent assault by brushing the girl’s hand against his penis.
- Count 4: Indecent assault by touching the girl’s buttocks.
- Count 5: Indecent assault by kissing the girl.
- Count 6: Abuse of a position of trust
The matter has been set down for a jury trial commencing on July 20, 2026.
Bail Conditions Upheld
The court ordered that existing bail conditions from the Summary Court continue to apply. These include:
- Residing and sleeping nightly at a specified address.
- No unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 17, except for his own children and relatives.
- No contact whatsoever with the complainant.
- Provision of a local surety in the amount of CI$3,000.
- Prohibition from approaching within 100 yards of the premises.
- Curfew between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
- Regular reporting to Bodden Town Police Station.
Varona is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The trial will determine the outcome of the charges.
Media reporting restrictions prohibit the publication of any information that could identify the complainant or the specific location of the complainant.
