PPP members Kwame McCoy and Jason Abdulla, along with former bodyguard Shawn Hinds were yesterday charged with assaulting newspaper columnist and activist Freddie Kissoon, on whom they are accused of throwing human faeces during an attack in 2010.
McCoy, 40, Abdulla, 34, and Hinds, 51, were arraigned before Magistrate Judy Latchman, who set bail for each at $100,000. However, they were not required to plead to the assault charge since rather than a summary trial, their attorneys requested that a preliminary inquiry be conducted into the charge to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for them to face a trial before a judge and jury in the High Court.
There was also the suggestion by attorney Glenn Hanoman, who made submissions on behalf of Abdulla, that it may be inappropriate for the matter to be tried by Magistrate Latchman, as Kissoon had in the past made scathing remarks about her, which were broadcasted in the media. To that, the magistrate responded that while it is the job of some to advocate, hers is to adjudicate, while noting that criticism will in no way affect the performance of her duties.
The police’s case against the men is that they committed the act in the vicinity of Robb and Light streets on May 24, 2010.
Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick related that the charge was instituted after the police, acting on information, contacted Abdulla, who admitted to being part of a plan organised by McCoy and executed by himself and Hinds. He stated too that while McCoy had remained silent, the police were in possession of statements given by the co-accused admitting to his and their involvement in the attack.
Bostwick had no objections to bail but requested that such be granted on the conditions that the men stay away from Kissoon, report once a week to the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters and lodge their travel documents, pending the outcome of the matter.
Asked whether he wanted to say anything, Kissoon said, “At a philosophical level, I do not believe in denying people their freedom… but my submission is that I am still fearful for my life.”
He also stated that he would be telling a lie if he said he did not believe that those who assaulted him once would be inclined to do so again.
Bail was subsequently set.
Before the end of the proceedings, the court was told by McCoy’s attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, that her client had lost his passport. She was, however, reminded by the magistrate that lodging of travel documents was a requirement for bail to be granted.
When McCoy, who had served as a presidential press officer under former PPP/C administrations, was finally at liberty to leave, it took several attempts and a number of police officers to escort him to the awaiting vehicle as a crowd that had gathered outside had grown in mass and would not let him pass freely.
Scores of people, who had been gathered on the pavement outside the court and on the balconies of the courthouse seemingly awaiting matters, rushed to the main gate when the vehicle transporting the accused arrived.
McCoy, Abdulla and Hinds are scheduled to return to court on March 11 for report.
The attack had occurred near Nigel’s Supermarket.
Kissoon had recounted to this newspaper then that he had just returned to his car after an unplanned stop at the supermarket, when a “very squatty guy” threw a bowl of pungent human faeces directly into his face.
Kissoon, who was already in his vehicle, related that he chased the man to the vicinity of the Merriman Mall, where he got into a waiting white car with a licence plate number which began with PKK. He added that his attacker was dark, squatty and wearing a cap.
“He just threw it in my face and ran and I drove after him and I was trying to knock him with my car but he went into the car and then the car came at me and I had to swerve,” Kissoon had said.
