Housekeeper accused of stealing money from minister
A woman who was employed by Minister Simona Broomes as a housekeeper, appeared in court yesterday, where it was alleged she stole money from the Minister’s house.
The charge against the woman, Donetta Rajkumar, states that between March 6,
2019 and March 7, 2019, at
Lodge Housing Scheme, she stole $195,000 cash, property of Simona Broomes.
The mother of three, who was represented by attorney Everton Singh-Lammy, pleaded not guilty to the allegation against her, when she appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
According to the attorney, the house has at least six other occupants. However, the facts presented to the court by the prosecution stated that Rajkumar was alone in the house at the time the money was taken and was the only one who had access.
Singh-Lammy stated that his client is currently on $40,000 station bail and requested that she be released on her own recognizance or that she be granted reasonable bail.
Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman had no objections to bail being granted to Rajkumar but he requested that conditions be attached.
Rajkumar was granted $75,000 bail and was told to return to court on April 3, 2019 for her next hearing. As the police probe into the alleged beating of
Rasville teen, Shamar
Tanner continues, three ranks have been placed under close arrest, Commander of ‘A’ Division
Marlon Chapman said.
Tanner, 19, a labourer attached to John Fernandes Limited sustained severe injuries to his face and lost several teeth during the incident which occurred around 7 pm last
Friday.
He had alleged that he was assaulted by lawmen, resulting in his hospitalization.
Michelle Nieuenkerk, the injured teen’s aunt had said Tanner was standing at the corner of America Street, where he was about to light “a joint” and he noticed the police approaching.
As a result, Nieuenkerk said, Tanner ran and was allegedly chased by the ranks, who severely beat him to his face with a gun while asking for the cigarette. Tanner lost consciousness and was picked up and taken to the hospital.
The police had initially denied any of its ranks were involved in the incident. Instead, they had said that his injuries were inflicted by a man who has since been identified and is being sought.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, in a press statement on Monday had said that around 8 pm on Friday, police ranks conducting a foot patrol on America Street, Georgetown observed the suspicious actions of Tanner, who upon being approached, ran in an eastern direction. “During the process of running away, a male who has since been identified and is currently being sought reportedly hurled a piece of iron at Tanner, which struck him in the face, resulting in his injuries,” Ramlakhan noted.
He emphasised that members of the force did not have any physical contact with Tanner at any point apart from escorting him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
However, Tanner’s relatives have said that based on what he related to them, he was not taken to the hospital by the police but by a minibus driver and conductor who are known to him.
Nieuenkerk had told Stabroek News that the police visited Tanner on Monday in a bid to obtain a statement but his relatives refused to permit them to take it.
However, Chapman yesterday said that a statement has not yet been obtained from Tanner since investigators are awaiting clearance from his doctors.