Rae Barrett to answer rape charge

Tyrone Reid, Senior Staff Reporter

Former National Health Fund (NHF) boss Rae Barrett has been arrested and charged for allegedly raping one of his former co-workers just over a week ago.

Barrett was charged on Thursday by cops from the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) sex crimes unit - the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).

A Sunday Gleaner source revealed that the alleged rape occurred at the victim's Corporate Area apartment in the wee hours of Saturday, December 10, 2011. Reports are that Barrett and the complainant were among a small group of acquaintances socialising at a New Kingston nightspot the night before when the alleged victim complained of feeling ill and was reportedly taken to her apartment by Barrett. It was there that the alleged sex crime occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 am.

According to the source, after the young woman reported the alleged attack to the cops last week Sunday night, a rape kit was prepared and blood was also taken from the complainant for further tests.

A source close to the investigation revealed that Barrett was arrested in the vicinity of Half-Way Tree after he agreed to meet with the cop who was investigating the case.

"He didn't know he was going to be arrested, but he was aware of the report and that it was a police officer he was going to meet," the source divulged.

When contacted, Barrett's lawyer, Patrick Bailey confirmed that his client was on a rape charge and had been granted bail on Friday in the sum of $50,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 11, next year. Bailey declined to comment on the specifics of the case except to say his client was being a good Samaritan and has since been falsely accused. He said there was no sexual contact with the alleged victim.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com