Magistrate Chandra Sohan yesterday refuted a police report that he presided over a drunk driving case at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, saying that he was in Berbice at the time.
The upset magistrate told Stabroek News last evening that he was shocked when he read that he had imposed a fine of $7,500 on a man, who was involved in an accident with Police Commissioner Henry Greene.
When this newspaper indicated to Magistrate Sohan that it was the police who sent out the information in a press release, he stressed that he could not have been the presiding magistrate since he was in Berbice.
A police press release had said that the police were investigating “a damage incident” which occurred about 19:21 hours on Sunday on Sheriff Street which resulted in damage to a motor car assigned to the office of the police Commissioner.
According to the release Greene was being driven by Corporal 19137 Henry, south along the eastern carriageway of Sheriff Street when the car was struck by motor car PMM 6734 driven by Zaheer Waheed, 34, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden.
Waheed’s car was proceeding west when it failed to stop at the junction and drove into the path of the commissioner’s vehicle resulting in a collision and damage to both vehicles.
Both drivers were tested for alcohol in their bodies and “Waheed was found to have 175 microgrammes, while the policeman registered zero microgrammes”.
“Today (Monday) Waheed appeared before Magistrate Chandra Sohan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was fined $7,500,” the release said.
