A 21-year-old taxi operator, who was arrested and charged with indecent assault, was given bail, when he appeared in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court last week.

Damian Allison, of Longwood district in St Elizabeth was granted $80,000 with one surety. He was arrested on July 25, after he was brought to the Santa Cruz police station. He was charged after he allegedly took the seven-year-old complainant from her home to be with her.

The court was told that the accused was hired to transport the complainant from school. He reportedly took the minor from her home in his car to some place where it is alleged that he 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 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.