-court hears
An accused drug trafficker, who police say attempted to bribe a rank in order to escape a charge, is now a remanded prisoner.
Christopher Gonsalves, 27, faced two charges when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in Georgetown.
It was alleged that Gonsalves had 530 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking on October 3rd, 2018, at Albouystown, Georgetown.
He also faced another charge which stated that on the same date, at the Brickdam Police Station, he attempted to obstruct or pervert the course of justice by offering “Sergeant George” $150,000 in cash, so as to prevent the institution of a charge made against him.
According to Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris, police conducted a sting operation, where they visited Gonsalves’ shop to buy cannabis. He reportedly left on his motorcycle and returned with a bulky black plastic bag, which contained the cannabis. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station.
It is further alleged that Gonsalves then requested to speak to the investigating rank and was carried to Sergeant George, whom he offered $150,000 to release him.
Gonsalves, however, pleaded not guilty to both of the charges. Although he was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 on the charge of bribery, he was remanded to prison on the charge of possession of narcotics. The matters were adjourned until November 5th. Prem Chand, who admitted to trying to bilk a man of $100,000 by pretending to be both a doctor as well as a patient in need of heart surgery, was yesterday fined $100,000 for the crime.
Chand, 43, faced a charge of attempting to commit a felony when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in Georgetown.
He admitted that on October 4th, at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, he attempted to commit a felony, to wit, simple larceny, by pretending to be Dr Mahendra Carpen in order to obtain $100,000 from Frank Sanichara.
The court heard that Chand called Sanichara and pretended to be Dr Carpen and stated that a patient needed money for open heart surgery. He was subsequently invited to send the patient over.
The court heard that the complainant recognised the voice was not that of Dr Carpen, whom he called to verify if he sent someone to collect money from him. The doctor denied doing so.
After Chand went to Sanichara’s business place to collect the money he requested, Sanichara summoned the police. Chand was then arrested.
When Chand was asked by Magistrate Latchman if he had anything to say, the man told the court that he needed money for open heart surgery in January and that he committed the crime out of frustration.
Magistrate Latchman subsequently fined the man $100,000, with an alternative of six months in prison if he cannot pay the fine.