A bartender from a popular St Andrew entertainment spot appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer to a rape charge.

The bartender was accused of raping one of his co-workers recently on the premises.

The court was informed that around 1 a.m. on the day in question, the accused and one of his female co-workers had just finished working and went to the employee rest area. It was said that the accused and the female went to two separate rooms.

It is alleged that the female fell asleep shortly afterwards, with the door to her room left open. It was reported that while she slept, the accused man entered her room and she was held down and raped. The female later reported the incident to her boss and mother. Following investigations, the accused was arrested by the police.

During court yesterday, the accused man's attorney defended his client by informing the court that he had consensual sex with the complainant and that he had been invited to her room.

The accused was released on bail and ordered to submit his fingerprints to the police. He is scheduled to return to court at a later date.