Rondell Bacchus, the 32-year-old security guard who was arrested by the police in relation to the execution-style killing of gold dealer Ricardo Fagundes, was yesterday charged with damaging a Guyana Police Force vehicle whilst he was in the process of being detained.
Bacchus appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty, he was placed on $5,000 bail.
It is alleged that on April 9, 2021 whilst at the Brickdam Police Station, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged a windshield on a motor vehicle, PYY 9785, valued $24,561 and a triangular glass on the said vehicle, valued $32,000. According to the Police Prosecutor, Bacchus turned himself in to the Police after he was placed on a wanted bulletin on the suspicion of committing murder. He, Bacchus, became annoyed as he was being taken into custody and damaged the two items mentioned in the charge.
Bacchus’ attorney, Damien DaSilva, told the court that his client made every effort to compensate the state for the damage incurred. DaSilva also asked that the court give way for his client to compensate the GPF. However, the court was informed that the GPF would have to indicate that it was open for such an out-of-court settlement. DaSilva then asked the court for time so that the GPF could arrive at a decision, after which Magistrate McLennan adjourned the matter to April 21, 2021.
This newspaper previously reported that Bacchus had turned himself into the police on Tuesday April 6, 2021 last, about an hour after a wanted bulletin was issued for him in connection with the murder of Fagundes. Bacchus was released on April 9, on $100,000 station bail after the 72-hour period in which he could be held without a charge elapsed. Fagundes was gunned down outside of the Palm Court bar on Main Street, Georgetown, on March 21, 2021.
In 2019, Bacchus was sentenced to 16 years, 8 months’ imprisonment for the murder of Akbar Alli and three years for an armed robbery as well as one year each for unlicensed possession of a gun and ammunition charges. The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh after Bacchus pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The time was to be served concurrently and time was deducted for the time he spent in pre-trial custody from the sentence.
