An East Coast hotelier and a bartender were yesterday accused of renting a hotel room that was allegedly later used for prostitution.
Benab Hotel proprietor Joseph Barker, 64, of Mahaicony and bartender Daniel Wilson, 41, pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court 2.
The charge against them is that on July 4th, at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, being the landlord and agent respectively of Benab Hotel and bar, situated at Better Hope, Barker and Wilson let a room with the knowledge that it was to be used as a brothel. Attorney Adrian Thompson represented both defendants and made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum. Thompson noted that Barker is a sickly person who suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. He said the man collapsed on Monday at the police station. He also said that after reviewing the law, the section under which the duo is being charged does not entail a custodial sentence.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones had no objections to bail, which was set at $20,000 each.
The matter was subsequently transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for July 16th.
