Roberto Narine, the drunk driving accused who allegedly caused the death of 27-year-old Ian Mekdeci due to dangerous driving, was yesterday afternoon charged with the crime and granted his release on $200,000 bail.
Narine was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which was read by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in a Georgetown Court.
According to the charge read against him, on May 1, 2022, at Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, Narine drove motor jeep PTT 4136 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Mekdeci.
The court heard that on Sunday, May 1st, 2022 at about 02:15 hrs, Narine was proceeding south along the western driving lane of Vlissengen Road, and on approaching Sandy Babb Street, while the traffic light was showing red in his direction, he failed to stop.
As a result, he collided with the left side of a car, PXX 4592, which was pushed some distance to the north-west end of the intersection of the streets.
The court also heard that the driver of PXX 4592, Sheik Baksh, who was also in the car with Mekdeci, was yesterday discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Narine, a father of one, was placed on $200,000 bail with the condition that his passport be lodged with the court and that he report to the Alberttown Police Station every Friday at 09:00 hrs until his next court date, which is June 15, 2022.
The accused, who was represented by attorney Siand Dhurjon, said that his client “was not driving dangerously at the time of the accident.”
His licence was also said to have expired days before the accident.
Dhurjon also stated that his client, who is a Civil Engineer at SRK Engineering, also suffered severe injuries due to the accident.
The attorney went on to say that since the accident, Narine’s family has made contact with Mekdeci’s family and expressed their regret and condolences.
However, he maintained his innocence of the charge.
Narine was also charged on Tuesday with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving an unlicensed vehicle, for which he was placed on $20,000 bail and fined $20,000, respectively.
