Bishop Joseph Persaud will stand trial in the high court for the alleged rape of a church member.
The incident allegedly took place at the Bishop’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara home. Persaud was released on $350,000 bail during the preliminary inquiry into the matter which was being heard before Magistrate Leron Daly, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Attorney- at- law, Nigel Hughes is representing Persaud while Police Prosecutor Richard Harris led the evidence in the Preliminary Inquiry.
It is alleged that Persaud during the month of October 2017, invited the woman to his home for ‘counseling’ where he allegedly raped her.
There are reports that the 22-year-old victim had once shared a relationship with Bishop Persaud but ended it after his wife found out. It is also alleged that even after the relationship ended Persaud kept calling the woman’s phone.
Reports are that the Bishop after his arrest called the victim, pleading with her to drop the charge.
Persaud is the spiritual leader of a church in the Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.