Former Youth Affairs Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency, Simona Broomes and her bodyguard, Dexter Austin appeared on Thursday before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where several charges against them were dismissed.
Dexter Austin with his firearm
Magistrate Bess dismissed the charges against the duo, since the Police Prosecutor was unable to present the file in court. The Magistrate added that the case had been ongoing for the past eight months and there had been no progress.
Austin and Broomes appeared in court in the latter part of August 2020, when they denied the charges of unlawful restraint, threatening language, and causing public terror along with assault, and were both released on self- bail.
Austin was separately charged for discharging a firearm within 100 yards of a public space.
Simona Broomes
On August 3, 2020, the former Minister and her bodyguard Austin went after two men who had removed a “no fishing” sign from the parapet opposite her Lot 103 Lockoo Street, Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown home.
This, however, led to an altercation and an exchange of words before the men entered their vehicle and left the scene.
According to Broomes, there was a high-speed chase, but based on a video that was posted by the former Minister herself, that was not the case.
As they followed the white motor car, Broomes was heard urging persons on the roadway to intercept the vehicle.
However, the vehicle was finally intercepted in Sophia, where Broomes and some armed associates confronted the two men and assaulted them.
It was here Austin allegedly discharged his loaded firearm.
