An alleged child rapist has appeared in court.
Samuel Osei-Bempong, 48, faces charges that he raped two girls in their mid teens between 2001 and 2003 in Oxfordshire. He is accused of sexually assaulting the girls, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, multiple times.
Appearing before Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, Osei-Bempong, of Middle Barton, near Chipping Norton, entered no pleas to four counts of rape. He is expected to plead not guilty.
At the short plea hearing, Judge Nigel Daly heard that seven other defendants were anticipated to face trial in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of the girls.
Efforts were being made to extradite five other men. Two men, who live in the UK, had been charged in connection with the alleged abuse and warrants were issued for their arrests after they failed to attend Oxford Magistrates’ Court last month.
Four police officers from the investigation – called Operation Junction – attended the court hearing.
Judge Daly bailed Osei-Bempong to return to court in April for a case management hearing. The trial, which is expected to last eight weeks, is expected to begin on October 10.
His bail conditions require him to sign on at Banbury police station, not leave the country or apply for travel documents. He must not contact his seven co-accused.
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