A 33-year-old minibus conductor, who is accused of twisting the arm of a 12-year-old girl in order to get her bus fare, was placed on $10,000 bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Dwayne Argyle of 5 Goedverwagting, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, was charged with assault after it was alleged that on June 11 at Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted a 12-year-old girl.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the defendant, the virtual complainant (VC), who was not in court, and her friends were travelling in the bus he was conducting. He said that she was supposed to pay a fare of $60, but her friends encouraged her to pay only $40. Argyle said the child had $40 in one hand and $100 in the other, so he opened the hand with the $100 to get the correct fare.
“I just open de hand with de $100 so that I could tek out me $60 and give she back she $40 change. Duh is all I do meh worship, me ain’t ring or twist she hand,” Argyle said.
Police Prosecutor Corporal Munilall Seetram told the court, however, that the defendant twisted the child’s arm and took the bus fare by force.
Seetram added that Argyle did not conduct himself in a proper manner and he was wrong to take the child’s money away.
The unrepresented Argyle was subsequently placed on $10,000 bail and ordered to return to Court Five on June 25.
