Fidel Collins, the bus driver accused of assaulting a differently-abled man during an incident of road rage two weeks ago, is expected to be charged next month after a schedule mix-up.
Roger Gautier, the victim in the matter, related on Sunday that information reaching him from the police was that Collins had been charged.
However, a police source revealed that there was a mix up and the accused was given the wrong date to attend court for charges to be read to him. As a result, the matter has been put off until December 13.
Collins is also to face another charge, which is traffic-related. That matter is scheduled for today at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
Gautier, who lost his right arm in an accident approximately eight years ago, was allegedly dealt a cuff to the jaw by the minibus driver following the accident near the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which resulted in him suffering a burst lip.
Gautier explained that the minibus driver had collided with his car after he denied him the opportunity to cut in front of him. Gautier was driving behind his wife at the time and had been on his way to pick up his children from school.
His five-year-old child was in the vehicle with him at the time.
Stabroek News was made aware of the matter after a letter was sent to this newspaper by an eyewitness, Paul Fraser, who reported being threatened for standing up for Gautier and intervening to stop a further assault.
Fraser related in the letter that the driver of the minibus, after colliding with the back of Gautier’s car, exited his vehicle and proceeded to verbally and physically abuse the man, proclaiming that he was employed at the Ministry of the Presidency. A soldier sat in the assailant’s vehicle throughout the incident, didn’t attempt to intervene and in the end raised his voice in support of the minibus driver.
Stabroek News has been unable to ascertain whether the minibus driver was indeed associated with the Ministry of the Presidency.
