The allegedly ‘drunk’ minibus driver involved in the Herstelling public road accident which claimed the life of Basil Rambarran, an elderly pedal cyclist, was on Monday released on $500,000 bail after his arraignment before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Seekumar Singh of Soesdyke Back Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who was represented by defence attorney Lloyd Conway, pleaded not guilty to the offence, which alleged that on September 19, 2017 he drove minibus BLL 3749 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Rambarran.
Reports reaching this publication indicate that the accident occurred at about 16:45h on the day in question, as Rambarran was heading home from work. According to Police reports, the minibus driver was heading towards Timehri when the cyclist crossed the road in the path of the oncoming minibus and the collision resulted.
Singh was subsequently arrested when he failed a breathalyser test that found in excess of the legal limit of alcohol on his breath.
The fallen cyclist had succumbed to multiple injuries, according to a post mortem report.
Rambarran leaves to mourn his common-law wife, two daughters and grandchildren, among other relatives and friends.
Singh was placed on bail in the sum of $500,000 and ordered to return to court on October 13, 2017 for continuation of this case, before appearing in another court to answer to a traffic charge of driving whilst having consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol.
However, that charge was withdrawn and discontinued against the defendant when the magistrate found the particulars to be ambiguous. (Paula Gomes)