Prisoner opts to serve jail sentence for throwing book at magistrate

Remanded prisoner Bishram Emmamudin, who threw a book at Magistrate Geeta Chandan Persid-Edmond while she was presiding in the New Amsterdam remand centre last year, was yesterday fined $25,000 with an alternative of three months imprisonment.

Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo imposed the monetary fine but Emmamudin, of East Canje, opted to serve the custodial penalty.

Prior to imposing the fine, the Magistrate informed Police Prosecutor Satrohan Dayaram that the Section under which the charge was filed resulted in a fine, instead of a term of imprisonment.

On July 2, 2009, Emmamudin, who faced charges of rape, robbery under arms and unlawful possession of ammunition, was further remanded, having being denied bail by Persid-Edmond.

Subsequently, as he was leaving the centre under police escort, Emmamudin pulled out the book— “Deceit of Lucifer”—from his pants waist and threw it at the magistrate. It missed her by a few inches and landed on the desk in front of her.

The unarmed court orderly had earlier left the Court to assist the other lone police officer to escort the prisoners away when the attack occurred.

Police ranks later attempted to hurriedly escort the prisoner off to the nearby prison but Magistrate Chandan-Persid Edmond immediately summoned him and told him he had acted in contempt of court and that he had just committed misconduct in the face of the court.