‘‘Guyanese Critic’’ faces assault charges for nightclub brawl

Popular social media commentator Mikhail Rodrigues, better known as the ‘Guyanese Critic’ and Brian Persaud an electrician of Corentyne, Berbice appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday in connection with assault charges stemming from an altercation on September 30 at Montra Lounge and Bar in Georgetown.
Both men, who pleaded not guilty, faced Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Rodrigues was released on $100,000 bail, while Persaud was granted $75,000 bail. The two are scheduled to return to court on October 28.
Representing Rodrigues in court were attorneys Bernard DaSilva and Sanjeev Datadin, while Persaud was represented by attorney Damien DaSilva.

The charges arose from an alleged confrontation at the nightclub, during which Persaud claims that Rodrigues assaulted him with a firearm. According to Persaud, the altercation began when a woman started recording Rodrigues inside the club, which escalated into a dispute. Persaud alleges that Rodrigues, mistaking him for someone else, struck him in the face with a firearm, causing visible injuries.
Rodrigues, however, has denied these claims. In his version of events, Persaud was the initial aggressor, hitting him on the head with a glass bottle during the argument. Rodrigues admitted that after the bottle strike, he pursued Persaud and reached for his licensed firearm, but he denies using it to assault Persaud. Rodrigues claims that Persaud fell during the chase, and while Rodrigues admitted to grabbing him in the confrontation, he denied any assault.
When police intervened, they reportedly found Persaud’s gold chains in Rodrigues’ hands. Both men were taken in for questioning and subsequently placed on station bail. (G9)