A fracas over passengers landed two minibus conductors in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday, one charged with assaulting the other.
The allegation is that on October 26 at Georgetown, Imran Baksh unlawfully assaulted Naresh Ramdat.
Baksh pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault when it was read to him by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey in giving the facts of the case said that on the day in question, the two were filling their respective minibuses when a heated argument ensued. According to Harvey, Baksh who was enraged became violent and dealt the virtual complainant (VC) a severe beating.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant cuffed and kicked the VC.
When given a chance to respond, however, the unrepresented Baksh told the court that at no time was he violent to the complainant. According to him, he just merely pushed the VC out of his path.
“Meh worship, I din kick and cuff he. I just push he lil, cause he de standing in my way,” the accused said.
In relating his version of what transpired, the accused said that he had already convinced a number of passengers to travel with him when the VC approached and tried to persuade the commuters to travel with him [Ramdat] instead.
It was at this point that the accused said he pushed the VC out of his way.
Baksh was later fined $25,000 or the alternative of spending one month imprisoned.
