An 11-year-old girl says she was kidnapped and later raped by masked men in broad daylight yesterday in Belize City. The girl's encounter allegedly occurred between 4 and 5 pm yesterday on Johnson Street which is where she claims a red car pulled up and a man pulled her inside. She says she was tied up and raped by one of the men. It's a disturbing report and the girl is being questioned by police tonight about some inconsistencies in her story.
The girl had been sent on an errand by her 65-year-old grandmother at 3 pm. 5 hours later, at 8pm, the grandmother got a call and was told her granddaughter was at the hospital. The grandmother spoke to us this afternoon but to protect the child's identity we can't tell you her name or show you her face.
Grandmother of Alleged Victim,
"I had sent her to JEC and she said on her way back, it is through the little side street that comes out to Roger's Stadium, which comes out behind the health center, that is where she catches the bus and so to come back home, and that it is there two men, they had on masks in a red car, dragged her, opened the door suddenly and pulled her in the car. And then drove off with her through the back streets, canal side and what not, and then they went out to the park down Regent Street area. Bird's Isle was the word she used. She said they dragged her in the bushes and then she was bawling, she was bawling for help, and it was a lady that heard her screaming and called the cops and then the cops went and picked her up."
Keith Swift,
Did she tell you if she was sexually assaulted?
Grandmother of Alleged Victim,
"No, she hasn't admitted it me. Right up until now that I am talking to you, she has not said to me the grandmother. But the police and the social worker told me she was."
Keith Swift,
What were your first impressions after you heard the story?
Grandmother of Alleged Victim,
"I was shocked. I was mad."
Keith Swift,
Who were you mad at?
Grandmother of Alleged Victim,
"At the thing, the whole system - everything because it is big three o'clock when I sent out my granddaughter and for this to happen to her and she always goes and do clearance for me."
The girl says that only the driver was masked and she was only raped by one of the men. Again police are looking into some inconsistencies in her story but they are still investigating.
