Father of four put on $200,000 bail over escape from lawful custody

A father of four accused of escaping from lawful custody was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $200,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The allegation against Randolph Pereira is that on August 17 at the East La Penitence Police Station while being in the custody of Police Corporal 12224 Patrick Sears, pending investigation into an alleged rape, he escaped.

The 43-year-old, 1677 Diamond Housing Scheme resident was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge when it was read to him.

Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat who represented the accused said that his client was threatened that he would be gun-butted by the police while at the station.

As a result, counsel said that his client left the station but returned the next day.

Prosecutor Burgett Grant told the court that the prosecution was objecting  to counsel’s bail application.

When asked by the court on what grounds, Grant stood  staring into the distance and responded that she had no grounds for the objections.

“I have no grounds for objections,” she said.

The presiding magistrate and the defence expressed outrage at the prosecutor’s response. The magistrate stated that the court was making note of it.

After hearing the case, the magistrate informed Pereira that his pretrial liberty would be granted in the sum of $200,000.

His matter will be called again on October 12 for report and fixture.