Taxi driver Deon Tulkaram, accused of having a concealed knife in his possession, was yesterday placed on bail after he explained that the “offensive weapon” was what he used to help his father clean fish.
Tulkaram appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in a city court where he was accused of being in possession of an offensive weapon.
He pleaded guilty to the charge as he did have a knife in his possession but not for an illegal purpose.
However, it was Prosecutor Deniro Jones’ case that on the 12th of April, in the vicinity of Middle Road, Tulkaram had in his possession an offensive weapon which was concealed in a cloth.
Jones related to the court that it was also alleged that on 31st of March, on First Street, Alexander Village, Tulkaram made use of threatening language to Shawn Yassin. Tulkaram, however, denied the accusation and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
When the magistrate inquired about the nature of the threat, Prosecutor Jones explained that Tulkaram was overheard making claims that he would “juk” someone.
Tulkaram, of 82 West Front Road, said he often helps his father clean fish on the wharf—a fact that he claimed is known to the people in the area, including the police. He explained that at the time he was apprehended he had just come from the wharf and had the knife he used to clean the fish in his possession.
Tulkaram was eventually placed on a bond to be on good behaviour and released on $10,000 bail for each charge. He will return to court before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on 16th of May.
