Rondell Bacchus was yesterday freed of a damage to property charge after he was ordered by the court to compensate the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the damage he caused to a police vehicle.
Bacchus, 32, a security guard, who was charged with damaging a Guyana Police Force vehicle whilst he was in the process of being detained, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when attorney-at-law Bernard DaSilva, acting in place of the man’s attorney, Damien DaSilva, informed that Bacchus had had discussions with the ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and made arrangements to compensate for the damage which is in excess of $70,000. DaSilva said that his client had $50,000 at the time.
However, the Chief Magistrate said that the matter was before the court and that at the last occasion the police prosecutor had informed that the CID would indicate whether compensation would be acceptable. She then ordered compensation of $32,455 and $2,000 cost to court after the Prosecutor informed that the GPF is not aware of any agreement between any parties.
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 quarter glass on the same vehicle, valued $32,000. According to the police prosecutor, Bacchus had 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.
At the previous appearance, Bacchus’ attorney Damien DaSilva told the court that his client had made every effort to compensate the state for the damage incurred and asked that the court give way for his client to compensate the GPF. However, the court was informed that the GPF would have to first indicate that it was open to such an out-of-court settlement. DaSilva then asked the court for time so that the GPF could arrive at a decision.
This newspaper also reported that Bacchus had turned himself into the police on Tuesday April 6, 2021, about an hour after a wanted bulletin was issued for him in connection with the murder of Ricardo 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.
