Zalena Ali also known as Kim Ali, a 59-year-old housewife of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara was yesteday placed on $25,000 bail after denying a charge of using threatening language against President Irfaan Ali.
Her case has been adjourned to May 18th 2023.
The defendant was also fined $75,000 on a separate charge of attempting to ex-cite hostility against Raynard Sobers contrary to Section 2 (3) of the Racial Hosti-lity Act. Both of the incidents occurred while she was at the Diamond Market Tarmac.
She appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court.
The defendant was arrested on Sunday.
The prosecutor told the court that on April 9th, the Vice Chairman of the council along with members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) were on a walkabout informing persons about the upcoming local government elections and while at the Diamond market tarmac, the defendant who was present used racially abusive language. As such, a recording was made of her statements.
Zalena was told of the offence and cautioned according to the judge’s rules. She pleaded guilty to the charge of an attempting to excite hostility or Ill-will and was fined $75,000. She however pleaded not guilty to the charge of threatening language and was placed on $25,000 bail.
Magistrate Scarce recommended that the defendant, a first-time offender, visit a probation officer. She was subsequently placed on bail pending the presentation of the probation report.
The defendant was heard on the social media site, TikTok saying on April 9th that the “President need to be assassinated”.
