Delay in Case Against Accused Child Abuser Mervin Budram

Former church leader, Mervin Budram, appeared in the High Court on Friday morning for a continuation of his sexual assault case in Belmopan. Budram is facing allegations from several young women who accused him of using his position as a church leader to sexually abuse them between the years 2004 and 2014. The charges, totaling 13 counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature, stem from these accusations.

The case gained prominence in August 2023 when Rebecca Stirm Lennan, daughter of a pastor at Jubilee Ministries, publicly accused Budram of assaulting her when she was just 11 years old.

Lennan was scheduled to testify against Budram on July 19, but the proceedings were adjourned. Arthur Saldivar, Budram’s attorney, told reporters that the delay in the case is due to the Director of Public Prosecutions’ unavailability, as she is involved in another case in the Supreme Court.

Jubilee Ministries, where Budram once held a leadership position, had pledged to investigate the allegations but has not provided any updates on their internal inquiry. Budram, who has denied all allegations, remains on bail until the next court date on September 13.