A 53-year-old minibus driver appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and was released on $100,000 bail by Magistrate Fazil Azeez.

Leslie Lopes of 26 Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on February 21 last year on the Goed Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara, Lopes caused the death of Gunidat Suknandan by driving minibus BJJ 3319 in a manner dangerous to the public.

Attorney-at-law Stephen Lewis entered an appearance for Lopes. In a bail application he stated that his client is a bus driver, has a fixed place of abode, has 10 children, was a former policeman, had no previous convictions and had been driving for 32 years. He declared that Lopes was not liable for the charge and was eager to defend himself. He stated that according to his instructions his client was proceeding home in a northerly direction and the vehicle driven by the deceased approached from the opposite direction and hit a parked vehicle which caused him to collide with his client’s vehicle. Three months after the accident the deceased succumbed to injuries sustained. He noted that his client was placed on bail at the police station and asked for reasonable bail to be granted.

Police Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue stated that he would not oppose bail as the defendant had been placed on station bail and had reported regularly to the police. He noted, however, that Lopes had been driving very fast and had overtaken a line of vehicles which resulted in him colliding with the deceased’s vehicle.

After listening to them, Magistrate Azeez granted bail in the sum of $100,000 and ordered Lopes to return to court on February 26 at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.