Miguel Anthony, the branch manager of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office at Port Mourant, Berbice, was yesterday charged with demanding money with menace.
Anthony, 44, of Nigg Village, Corentyne, Ber-bice, appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge.
It was alleged that between the September 8th, and September 9th, 2014, at Port Mourant, with menace, he demanded the sum of $350,000 from Peter Lewis.
Anthony, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was eventually released on $75,000 bail.
Stabroek News was told that Lewis has alleged that Anthony requested that he be paid the sum of $400,000 in order to get Lewis’ compliance sorted out. It is alleged that he later agreed to accept $350,000 and he undertook to produce the paper.
In an application for bail, Anthony’s attorney Horacio Edmond told the court that his client was not a flight risk. He said the man has been employed with the NIS for over 20 years and has been married and is a father of five children. Edmond also informed the court that his client is determined to attend court to prove that he is not guilty of the accusation.
Sergeant Godfrey Playter, who served as prosecutor, indicated to the court that he had no objections to bail.
Anthony is expected to return to court on October 22nd, when the case will be called at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.
