Businessman Reeaz Khan, whose sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl has sparked public outrage, is to face additional charges for allegedly taking the child from her home, according to counsel for the girl's mother.
Slapped with an abduction charge on June 10, Khan had turned up at the Wales Magistrate's Court and entered a plea of not guilty before Senior Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle. He was granted pre-trial liberty in the sum of $10,000.
Khan was charged after the child's mother Bibi Shameeza Hamid filed private criminal charges through her attorney Nigel Hughes alleging that he unlawfully removed the unmarried girl who is under the age of 16 without her [Hamid's] consent on May 21.
When the hearing resumed yesterday before Magistrate Robertson-Ogle, the court was told that additional private criminal charges are to be filed against Khan.
Hughes said the offence before the court was allegedly committed on May 21, but Khan allegedly repeated the offence on May 29, hence the pending charges. Statements were expected to be served on Khan yesterday but Hughes requested a later date. He said that two of the statements were ready for service but the third was not.
The matter is set to continue on July 16, when statements are expected to be served on the defence.
Vic Puran who is appearing on behalf of Khan said yesterday that he will make certain submissions after statements are served.
The scene at the court was in contrast to when Khan first made an appearance. Unlike the previous hearing, protestors were not present and the businessman quietly entered and exited the courtroom.