A miner was yesterday charged with using a taxi and then welching on the payment of the $19,500 in charges he racked up.
Raymond Hernelles pleaded “guilty with explanation” to the charge which stated between March 13th and March 15th, he incurred the debt by obtaining credit to travel with a taxi operated by Linden Parke.
However, when given his chance to speak, Hernelles explained that he had entered into an agreement with the taxi driver, since he had no money on him but was expected to go to the Gold Board to sell gold. He said he told the man he would pay him then.
Parke accepted the offer, he noted, while emphasising that he never refused to pay the taxi driver for the service.
After hearing Hernelles’ explanation, Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry en-tered a not guilty plea on his behalf. She went on to enquire whether or not Hernelles had the money to pay his debt. The man asked to be given two days to come up with the money.
With no objections from the prosecution, the magistrate set bail at $15,000 and ordered that Hernelles return to court on May 4th to settle the debt.
