A 21-year-old taxi operator who was arrested and charged with indecent assault after he allegedly took a seven-year-old school girl from her home earlier this year to be with her, was granted bail when he appeared in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court last week.

Damian Allison, of Longwood district in St. Elizabeth was offered $80,000 bail with one surety. He was arrested on July 25, after he was brought to the Santa Cruz police station.

The court was told that the accused who was hired to transport the complainant from school to home, took the minor from her home in his motor car to some place where it is alleged that he indecently assaulted her. This was some time in May this year.

Several complaints were made to the police and the accused was brought to the police station. The police informed the court that the accused, when he was brought to the station, walked out of the station while he was being processed, but was later arrested.

The accused was sternly warned by the Resident Magistrate Mr. Stanley Clarke to stay away from the complainant. He is to return to the Santa Cruz RM court on September 8, when the matter will be mentioned.