The ex-police officer who allegedly kidnapped a 13-year-old girl was further remanded yesterday when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.

Shawn Hinds

Shawn Hinds, 41, of 46 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge pleaded not guilty to the charge of abduction on Monday before Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

It is alleged that on January 27, at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Hinds abducted a 13-year-old girl with intent to secretly confine her.

However, attorney Glen Hanoman, representing Hinds in association with Vic Puran, had stated on Monday that the classification of abduction that his client had been charged with was a bailable offence and made an application for bail.

Hanoman noted that Hinds had fully cooperated and had given the police a statement which showed that he had an “iron-clad alibi” for his whereabouts when the incident occurred.

Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith, however, objected to the bail application stating that though the offence was a bailable one, there was a possibility that if Hinds were granted bail he might interfere with the teenage girl.

She said that on the day in question the teenager was walking on Freeman Street when Hinds abducted her and took her to a place in Timehri, East Bank Demerara, then to another place on the East Coast Demerara where he handed her over to another man.  Griffith also stated that other related charges are likely to be brought against Hinds and the other person implicated in the matter.

On Monday, the Acting Chief Magistrate had ordered that Hinds be remanded to prison and his case transferred to Court Five for February 6.

When Hinds made his appearance in Court Five before Magistrate Octive-Hamilton he was again remanded.

Before uplifting the statements in this matter, both attorneys-at-law Adrian Thompson and Paul Fung-A-Fat, who entered appearances for Hinds, made a plea for Magistrate Octive-Hamilton to use her discretion and grant bail to Hinds.

The  Court Five magistrate stated, however, that the Acting Chief Magistrate had sent the case to her to have statements ready and she dealt with that.  According to Magistrate Octive-Hamilton, “I am not going to grant bail, especially since my learned sister, the Acting Chief Magistrate denied it.” Magistrate Octive-Hamilton told the lawyers yesterday that they should have made their bail application for Hinds on Monday before the Acting Chief Magistrate.

Hinds has to return to court on May 11 for the preliminary inquiry (PI).