2 fined $50,000 for assaulting, obstructing traffic cop

Two persons who were with Keron Joseph – a staff sergeant of the Guyana People’s Militia – who assaulted a traffic rank while he was executing his duties, were on Wednesday slapped with assault and obstruction charges.
The duo, Albert and Paulette Grant, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and admitted to the offences.
The first charge stated that on November 5, 2020, at Cornhill and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, they unlawfully assaulted a Peace Officer. The second charge stated that on the same day, at the same location, they obstructed a Peace Officer. They were fined $30,000 each, with an alternative of six weeks’ imprisonment for the assault charge. An additional fine of $20,000 was imposed on each of them for the obstruction charge. Failure to pay the fine will result in a six-week prison sentence.
Only last week, Joseph – a staff sergeant of the Guyana People’s Militia, a branch of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was slapped with 13 charges in relation to the same matter.

It was reported that the traffic rank was performing duties on Cornhill and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, when he observed a heavily tinted motor car, bearing registration number PSS 5836, had stopped on the roadway, resulting in the obstruction of the free flow of traffic.
As a result, the rank approached the driver and informed him of the offence he had committed and requested he produced his documents, but he refused.
Another constable, who was on mobile patrol and in the vicinity of the incident, went to inquire and upon being told of the violation, he too requested the driver to produce his documents, but again, he refused.
Following the second refusal, the Constable cautioned the driver and attempted to arrest him, during which Joseph and his relatives, who were in the car, assaulted the two ranks. During the commotion, additional assistance was summoned and the trio were arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station.
A breathalyser test was carried out on the driver, of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), and he was found to be intoxicated.
He was slapped with 13 charges and pleaded guilty to 12. As such, he was fined $177,500 and his driver’s licence was suspended for one year. (G1)