A Kwakwani man was sentenced to two months community service and fined a total of $35,000 yesterday when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with disorderly behaviour, assaulting a police officer and possession of narcotics.
Burchell Simeon, 33, of Kwakwani Waterfront pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
It is alleged that on August 21 at Kwakwani, he assaulted Police Corporal Terrence Williams. Further he was also charged with behaving disorderly on August 1 and on August 30, he had 1.5 grams of cannabis in his possession.
Simeon was represented by attorney Adrian Thompson who told the court that his client was at a fun-day when the incident occurred. He said that his client regretted the entire episode and prior to the current charges, he had no antecedent.
Thompson added that when Simeon was approached by the police, he did not know the man was a police officer since he was out of uniform. The attorney said also that the narcotic which was found in his client’s pocket was a small “spliff” and he behaved disorderly because he was under the influence of alcohol. Thompson pleaded for leniency on his client’s behalf.
In considering Thompson’s submissions, Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford said that the defendant should be fined and given community service to perform at Kwakwani.
Simeon was then fined $10,000 for the possession of narcotics charge, $15,000 for assaulting the police officer and $10,000 for disorderly behaviour.
In addition, he was sentenced to two months community service to be done at the Kwakwani Police Station from September 6 to November 6 between the hours of 9:00-12:00.
Simeon then apologised to the police officer for his behaviour.
