The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

CHILD rapist Andre Birbal was repatriated to Trinidad and Tobago following the completion of his prison sentence at the end of June.

The former art teacher's release from prison follows a plea deal earlier this year where he admitted two counts of unnatural sexual intercourse with a former student between 2002 and 2004.

Birbal, 56, was sentenced to eight years and four months before acting Justice Andrew Forbes. His time served on remand in custody was deducted from his sentence.

He was escorted to his homeland by two immigration officers on June 30, according to documents obtained by The Tribune.

A senior official in the Office of the Attorney General confirmed yesterday that Birbal is on the country's restricted list, and a recommendation has been made for Cabinet revocation of his permanent residency, and for him to be placed on the stop list.

The plea deal in March followed two successful appeals by Birbal. He worked as an art teacher at Eight Mile Rock High School in Grand Bahama and fled the country in 2009 when allegations of sexual abuse surfaced. Birbal was extradited in 2010 to stand trial and was first convicted in 2011 on eight counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with two boys.

The former teacher was jailed for a total of 35 years but appealed the conviction. At a retrial in 2014 - when he faced charges against just one of the boys - he was again found guilty and jailed for 28 years. However, he won his appeal in 2017 and was ordered to stand trial for a third time to allow a new jury to decide his guilt or innocence.