Minibus driver Okemi Harry, who was caught on camera in November 2022 attacking and assaulting a Traffic Police Officer was on Friday jailed for 14 months and fined $80,000.
Harry, who was slapped with 13 charges last year, appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool and had four of those charges – failure to wear a seatbelt; disorderly behaviour; prohibition of tinted glass, and failure to behave in an orderly manner – dismissed.
File photo: The Lance Corporal being attacked by minibus driver Okemi Omali Harry in November 2022
He, however, was fined $20,000 for using indecent language; $10,000 for failure to carry a conductor; and $50,000 for resisting a peace officer. He was also sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment for assaulting a peace officer.
Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the charges of careless driving, failure to comply with a Police officer, and failure to wear a seat belt. The matter was adjourned to April 14, 2023, for report.
According to Police reports, Harry was pulled aside by two traffic ranks in November 2022 after he was observed driving his minibus above the speed limit at Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara.
He was told of the offence and asked to produce his driver’s licence. While the officer was writing a ticket for the offence, using the information on the driver’s licence, the minibus driver attempted to pull his driver’s licence away, but the officer held onto it.
The man, of Middle Street, Ann’s Grove, ECD, became annoyed and attacked the traffic officer, punching him to the body before putting him in a headlock and wrestling him to the ground.
The Police said two days before the incident, he was pulled aside for failure to wear a seatbelt and he drove away from those officers. (G9)
