Two members of the Guyana Police Force who were slapped with charges at the Mahaica Court yesterday for “suffering the escape of a person from lawful custody for an offence punishable with death” were each released on $40,000 bail.

Magistrate Yohance Cave was told that the defendants – who were not required to plead to the indictable offence – are still “serving members of the force.”

It is alleged that on November 2, 2007 at Hand-en-Veldt, Mahaica, Ertest Ivan, 42 attached to the Tactical Services Unit and Sandra Cordis, 43 who is stationed at the Police Impact Base, Brickdam, “assisted Onika King in escaping, while in lawful custody.”

Cordis of 288 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme whose lawyer, Hookumchand was not present in court, pleaded with the magistrate: “sir, please go light with me. I am the breadwinner”.

Meanwhile Ivan who was initially not present in court was represented by attorney-at-law, Kim Kyte-John. Police prosecutor, Corporal Bernard Brown told the magistrate that Ivan was informed that he had to attend court and asked for a warrant to be issued for his arrest.

But the prosecutor later changed his mind about the warrant after he learnt from a rank – who contacted the ‘C’ Division Commander via phone – that the defendant would be escorted to court.

In her application for bail for her client, Kyte-John argued that “from the onset he was the driver and he was in no way in charge of Onika King.” She said Ivan has been residing at 196 Success Housing Scheme for the past 10 years with his reputed wife and has three children.

She submitted that her client who was attached to the force for the past 13 years has every intention of attending court and that he is not a flight risk. She said that the evidence would prove that he is not guilty of the offence.

The prosecutor did not object to bail for the defendants. King who is still on the run was also charged with “escaping from lawful custody” and the Corporal Brown requested that a warrant be issued for her arrest. The court heard that on November 2, 2007 at Hand-en-Veldt, Mahaica, while being on a criminal charge, King escaped from custody.

The prosecutor told the magistrate that King had attended court in Georgetown and was being transported back to the New Amsterdam Prison when she escaped. At the time, the 22-year-old King of Lot 1830 North Ruimveldt, Festival City, Georgetown, was facing charges for the December 13, 2006 murder of Selvin King.

Meanwhile there was heightened security at the court yesterday which adjoins the Mahaica Police Station.