Unlicensed traffic cop charged for drunk driving

A young unlicensed Police Officer was charged and placed before the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after he was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol on Monday last.

Constable Joshua Ali, who was attached to the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force, appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weever to answer to the charges of Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Breach of Condition of Provisional Licence.

The Officer pleaded guilty to both charges and was fined a total of $37,500.

Moreover, he has since been transferred from the Traffic Department to the General Duties Section of the Police Force.

It was reported that while in a drunken state and being unlicensed, Ali slammed into a pickup that was parked along the corner of the road at Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on Monday.

The accident occurred around 10:30h, as the Officer was driving motor car PFF 4473 reportedly at a fast pace, east along the northern carriageway of the Bush Lot Public Road. He reportedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into motor pickup PLL 8801, which belonged to a businessman of the village.

Both vehicles were damaged as a result of the impact of the collision. Constable Ali was subsequently arrested and a breathalyser test was conducted, which found him to be over the legal limit of alcohol consumption while driving.