By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau:

A man answering to charges of carnally abusing his six-year-old stepdaughter was offered bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

The accused, a 27-year-old of Comfort in Manchester, will have to go back to that parish as a condition of his $500,000 bail.

The man, who was residing in Spring Mount with the complainant's mother at the time of the incident, was previously acquitted of indecent assault in the Manchester RM Court.

He is also required to report to the Mandeville Police Station on Mondays.

The accused man, who participates in the overseas farm work programme, was ordered to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was imposed against him. He was also instructed not to have any contact with the complainant.

Not afraid

In a bail application, defence attorney Morrel Beckford said that the mother's actions were not consistent with that of someone who was in fear of the accused. He also asked that his client's previous case not be used against him when bail is being considered.

"Your client seem to place himself in the position to be charged for similar offence against young girls," RM Henry said.

The accused is scheduled to return to court on January 11.

Allegations are that between January and March 2005, the child was at home with her sister and the accused, when he took her to his room and inserted his finger in her vagina.

However, the mother was not informed until after the accused left the island in March to take up work in Canada. He was confronted on his return but refuted the claims.

The mother made a report on January 3 this year and had the child examined by a doctor.

The court also learnt that the farm worker was asked to move out of his matrimonial home, and that he threatened to have his wife killed if she insisted on proceeding with the matter. He was apprehended earlier this year when he met with his wife in St. Elizabeth to give her money for his children.