The Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court was shocked on Thursday to hear the allegations against an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture.

James Edward Smith is facing charges of indecent assault and buggery, after being accused of molesting a 17-year-old male student of an institution devoted to children with learning disabilities.

The allegations are that the accused offered the complainant a ride from his school. It is also alleged that on numerous occasions, the accused picked up the complainant from school. On the day the offence is said to have occurred, January 23, Smith reportedly picked up the complainant and took him to an unknown location and parked by the roadside.

It is alleged that Smith fondled the young man's genitals and then had sex with him in a marked Ministry of Agriculture van. The matter was reported on January 25 and Smith was held on a warrant on Valentine's Day when he picked up the complainant at a bus stop. The court also learnt that Smith also picks up other boys from the school using the company's van.

Smith was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 by His Honour Frank Williams and was ordered to surrender his travel documents. He is to report to the police three times a week and a stop order was also issued. Smith was also ordered to stay away from the complainant's school.