Diamond Hotel proprietor charged with assaulting cop

Freeman Fordyce
Freeman Fordyce

The proprietor of the Diamond Hotel was yesterday placed on $35,000 bail after he allegedly assaulted a police officer and behaved disorderly during a search of the establishment following reports that the man had seized the passports of entertainers and threatened them.

It is alleged that Freeman Fordyce on November 9th at George Street, Werk-en-Rust, assaulted Prem Narine. A second charge alleged that Fordyce, on the same date, behaved disorderly in a public place. 

Fordyce denied both of the charges when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh told the court that there is a feud between the officer and the defendant and this is not the first time such an incident had occurred. 

Fordyce was placed on $20,000 bail for assaulting the officer and $15,000 bail on the disorderly behaviour charge. He is expected to return to court on January 7th 2019.

Reports indicate that on the day in question, the police inspector, along with other officers, went to the club owned by Fordyce to conduct a search after receiving reports from entertainers at the club that Fordyce seized their passports and threatened to kill them if they refused to work.

During the search, Fordyce allegedly dealt the inspector a punch to the neck which caused the officer to draw his weapon.