Police will be launching an investigation into reports that the wrong person was charged in relation to Sunday’s fatal accident at Mon Repos, following the circulation of a photograph which shows a different person sitting in the driver’s seat just after the crash.
The photograph which surfaced in the media and on the social network Facebook on Wednesday night shows a dazed young man with a wound to his head clutching the inflated airbag. Another individual who resembles the accused, Gidram Rasiawan age 17, can be seen in the photograph standing outside the vehicle about to open the driver side door. The photograph began circulating hours after Rasiawan appeared in court. By that time he had posted bail and had been released from custody.
Rasiawan during his court appearance did not have any wound to his head.
Speaking to reporters following the opening ceremony of the Guyana Defence Force’s Annual Officers Course yesterday, acting police commissioner Leroy Brumell said that he is not aware of the photograph that is being circulated. He said that based on his information a 17-year-old was driving the vehicle at the time (of the accident) and the teen told ranks that “he took away his parent’s vehicle. They said they did not tell him to use it and that is the person we are dealing with. I don’t know about a second person, I will have to look at that”.
Brumell said “if that is the case (that the wrong person was charged) and I don’t know about it, something is wrong. The fact that it is in the media it will be investigated”.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Rasiawan and the person sitting behind the wheel are relatives. Persons close to the duo said that Rasiawan’s relative is 16-years-old. Despite their age difference they are both fifth form students and are preparing to write CSEC exams later this year.
One person who is familiar with the relatives explained that Rasiawan is the holder of a driver’s licence while the relative is not. The younger of the relatives has not been seen at school since the accident occurred.
Rasiawan who lives at an Eccles, East Bank Demerara address, was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving for which he was granted $300, 000 bail each; breach of insurance, taking a vehicle without the consent of an owner and driving without a licence for which he was granted $50,000 bail each and driving under the influence of alcohol, $7,500 bail. He appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Monday and Wednesday before Magistrate Alex Moore.
On Sunday, around 8.30 pm Rasiawan allegedly drove GLL 6514 at a fast rate on the Mon Repos, Public Road and collided with minibus BMM 8260.
The police said Rasiawan appeared to have lost control of the vehicle and collided with the minibus which was travelling in the opposite direction.
Driver of the minibus, Godfrey Daniels, 42, of Ann’s Grove, ECD, and passenger Shondel Yaw, 36, of Annan-dale, ECD were pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while several other persons sustained severe and minor injuries.
