He's the former mayor of Benque Viejo and a former Ambassador to Cuba - but tonight Said Badi Guerra's public reputation has been badly tarnished. Today in Benque Viejo Magistrate's Court, he was arraigned on 6 charges: Four counts of sexual assault, one count of harm and one count of procuring defilement by threats.
This allegedly happened in a sexual encounter with a 16 year old boy in Benque Viejo on July 14th. The matter was heard before Magistrate Christina Perrera this morning where Guerra - who is now a high school teacher - received bail of 10 thousand dollars. He spoke with the press after:
Said Badi Guerra, Accused
"I will not and I must tell you I will not get into details because as you know this is an ongoing process. They're doing their investigation and I would not want to compromise police's investigation into the matter. One thing I must do make mention is I'm being wrongly accused of rape. It is not rape and I would like, um, whatsoever, put it up on the media to remove that term because it is not rape. All right? So, um, that being said I would like to mention three things if you allow me of course. First, this community knows me, believes knows me. This community knows me because I've worked with young people, with children and young people over the years. Since I was very young, I actually was the youth president for the youth council of Cayo West at some point in time. So I've always worked with young people and children and it's the first time that this allegations pop up. It's the first time I am seeing myself involved in this kind of thing. Secondly, I would like to uh call on our community, our society to please be a bit more compassionate. I'm not talking about me, I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about every time there is an incident that some people happen to do things."
"The society immediately jumps up, condemns, crucifies when it's only an allegation. But if you go on the media, my gosh, people have crucified me, people have buried me, some want me to rise again, to be buried again. Why do you think the allegation was made against you? Do you know the young man? Why would he do something like this? Yes, I know the young man and uh but that is going to come up. I am not going to, I'm not going to continue with this. We will leave it for another time."
Reporter:
"What's your relationship for him?"
Said Badi Guerra, Accused
"Thank you, thank you. That's all, that's all I can say. Thank you for now."
