The former Chairman of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Hanif Benjamin, has been granted bail in the sum of TT$170,000 following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor. The charges stem from an alleged incident on July 15th, 2025, involving a 15-year-old boy and are linked to a WhatsApp video call.
Benjamin, a well-known clinical and forensic traumatologist and clinical therapist, is accused of engaging in sexual communication with a child and conducting sexual activity in the presence of a child. At the time of the alleged incident, he was serving as the Director of Social Protection at the Tobago House of Assembly. He previously held the post of Chairman of the Children’s Authority from 2017 to 2020.
During a court hearing at the San Fernando Court, the state initially objected to bail. However, Master Delicia Bethelmy ruled in favour of Benjamin’s release under strict conditions. These include surrendering his passport, maintaining residence at his current address, reporting to the police twice monthly, and refraining from any direct or indirect contact with the complainant, witnesses, or third parties. Any change of residence must be reported to the police immediately.
Benjamin is due to return to court on January 16th, 2026, as the judicial process continues.
The Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is a specialised statutory agency mandated to safeguard the welfare of children, particularly those facing abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The allegations against a former head of the institution have sparked public concern, given the authority’s critical role in child protection across the country.
The matter has drawn attention not only for its serious nature but also because of Benjamin’s prominent public profile and his past advocacy on child welfare and trauma recovery. Authorities have yet to comment on whether Benjamin will remain in his current role within the Tobago House of Assembly pending the outcome of the case.
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