A 27-year-old teacher, who was charged with carnal abuse after it was alleged that he had sex with his 14-year-old neighbour and forced her to perform oral sex on him, was granted $50,000 bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Allegations in the case are that in November last year, the complainant was watching TV at the house of the accused man, when he forced her to carry out the sexual favour. The allegations also said that the accused had sex with the minor in December, and also January of this year.

Denying the allegations

The accused man's lawyer, who said his client was denying the allegations, said it was strange that her client was rumoured to be involved with the minor. In further explaining, she said that the minor's mother was called by someone in the community telling her to keep a watchful eye on the teen as she was spending too much time with a certain male in the community. That male, the lawyer continued, was not her client but another man.

She said that after that telephone conversation, the child's mother inquired who it was that her daughter was involved with and she made mention of the accused. A report was then made and the accused man was subsequently arrested on January 15.

The matter returns to court on February 17.