A 22-year-old man who allegedly pretended to be a police officer was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 yesterday when he appeared before Acting Chief Magi-strate Melissa Robertson-Ogle at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Antonio Dawson of 42 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to impersonating a police officer.
It is alleged that on September 30, Bhagwandin Nandlall was proceeding north along the Avenue of the Republic when Dawson who was walking in the opposite direction, stopped and told him that he was a policeman. Dawson then informed Nandlall that he had committed a traffic offence on Croal Street and said that he was taking him to the police station. However, Dawson allegedly took Nandlall under a building, where he instructed him to go to the bank and withdraw a quantity of cash. It was while Nandlall was resisting doing so that a police mobile patrol vehicle passed by and officers saw the two arguing. A policeman from the vehicle enquired what the problem was and was informed by Nandlall that Dawson had said he was a policeman.
Dawson was arrested and taken to the police station where it was confirmed that he was not a member of the force.
However Dawson’s lawyer stated that his client was a former member of the City Constabulary and had not shown Nandlall any documents stating that he was a policeman and at that time he was wearing civilian clothing.
Magistrate Robertson-Ogle then placed Dawson on bail of $50,000 and ordered that he appear in Court Two on November 7.
