A man accused of raping a former female politician and five other women was arraigned in a Magistrates’ Court yesterday on those six charges as well as six armed robbery, six burglary charges and one count of possession of an unlicenced firearm.
Claridge Road resident Oscar Ingraham appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez yesterday in Court #1.
The 27-year-old is accused of breaking into a home in west New Providence between 11:00 p.m. on May 29 and 5:00 a.m. on May 30 where he raped one woman, robbed her of $165 in cash and a Nokia cell phone.
Between February 29 and 30, Ingraham is also accused of breaking into the home of Love Beach couple, robbing them of $900, Bahamian drivers licences, Bahamian work permits, Filipino passports, cell phones and a silver bracelet and ring set.
Police alleged that he also raped the female in the home.
The other burglary, armed robbery and rape incident happened last October between the 27 and the 28.
In that instance police say Ingaham broke into a woman’s West Bay Street home, held her up at gunpoint and robbed her of $195.
The final charges against Ingraham stem from three other instances where he allegedly – in separate incidents – broke into a Windward Isles Way home, a Seagull Garden Road home in Yamacraw Estates and another home, robbed three women of $140, a gold and diamond tennis bracelet valued at $982.
Police said he also raped the three women on different occasions.
Ingraham was not required to enter a plea to the charge and told the court that on October 4 he was taken from Her Majesty’s Prisons (HMP) to the Central Detective Unit (CDU) and was forced to digitally sign a computer programme that he said police then used to copy his signature.
He denied all of the rape allegations and claimed that police are using him to appease the public.
Ingraham said he takes rape very seriously and says he does not want any women to have a grudge against him for something he did not do.
Magistrate Gomez promised Ingraham that he would have a fair trial.
He was remanded to HMP and is expected to return to court on March 7, 2013 for a voluntary bill of indictment.
