Businessman, bus conductor charged for attempting to bribe Police
A prominent Sophia entrepreneur and his accomplice were on Tuesday afternoon brought before the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a joint charge of attempting to bribe a Police Officer.
The charge read that Kemendra Ragubeer and Anil Persaud on May 12, 2017 at Brickdam Police Station corruptly uttered a sum of $500,000 to Police Constable Jerrol, as inducement to release Michael Ragubeer from custody.
The duo denied the charges, with both entering not guilty pleas.
Kemendra Ragubeer (right) and Anil Persaud (left)
The elder Ragubeer’s lawyer, Glen Hanoman maintained that his client was told to bring the said cash to the Police Station in order that his son may be released. Hanoman contended that his client was merely complying with instructions given, as “all he tried to do was to bail his son”.
The court heard that Ragubeer was a father of five, with a fixed place of abode in C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, while his co-accused was a 24-year-old bus conductor residing in B Field, Sophia.
Both men were released on $200,000 bail each after the prosecution made no objections.
This publication previously reported that Ragubeer’s son was one of two men arrested for allegedly disposing of an illegal .32 pistol, along with five live rounds of ammunition, on Tuesday last while riding a motorcycle at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.
It was reported that around 09:30h on the day in question, ranks on patrol observed two men on a CG motorcycle without a rear registration plate. As the ranks ordered the suspects to stop, the pillion rider whipped a firearm from his waist, tossed it onto the parapet and sped away. They were apprehended shortly thereafter.
The one of defendants’ father then contacted a police officer and allegedly offered him monies to release his son. A sting operation was put into effect, and the elder Ragubeer was arrested and taken into Police custody when he turned up with the cash.
