A Surinamese national who is facing a charge for possession of ammunition was slapped with a charge of escaping from lawful custody when he appeared before Magistrate Chandra Sohan at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
It is alleged that on January 19, 2007 while in the custody of a prison officer, Jerrel Patha staged an escape and was subsequently recaptured. Patha had been placed on $250,000 bail for the first offence but escaped before the bail was lodged. His attorney, Mursaline Bacchus informed the court that his client suffers from “more than one phobia”. He requested that the bail be recalled and that his client’s passport which was lodged with the court be returned to him.
Magistrate Sohan recalled the bail and told Bacchus that while he was busy seeking pre-trial freedom for his client for the first offence Patha was busy escaping.
Patha will return to court on February 2.
