Sydney:  An Indian-origin man was charged with raping a 13-year-old girl in the Australian state of New South Wales, a media report said on Sunday.

A Sydney man charged with raping a 13-year-old girl wanted to ”resolve the matters within the family”, police told Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

Police said the victim’s father also expressed the desire to ”bypass the police and judicial process”.

Surendra Chowdhry, 57, allegedly tied the girl’s hands behind her back with a handkerchief and then had sex with her at a western Sydney location on New Year’s Day in 2013. He also faced charges of indecently assaulting her three times during 2012 when she was 13 and did so twice again in January this year when she was 14.

Family members cried as Mr Chowdhry appeared on screen to face the charges.

Child Abuse Squad detectives arrested Mr Chowdhry, who lives in Seven Hills, on Friday soon after 8pm.

According to court documents, he told investigating police he wanted to ”resolve the matters within the family”.

Police alleged if he were released on bail the accused would approach or influence the victim into withdrawing the complaints.

An emotional Mr Chowdhry did not apply for bail when he appeared in court via audio-visual link but his Legal Aid lawyer said he planned to make an application to be released on Thursday at Parramatta Local Court.

The magistrate formally refused him bail and remanded him in custody.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald