Govt. Minister’s son charged

Jun 25, 2008 News

Robeson Benn, Junior, was on Monday granted $10,000 bail on a charge of disorderly behaviour when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.

The Police are alleging that Benn behaved disorderly at the Brickdam Police Station on June 20.
This charge reportedly stems from an altercation between the Police and Benn on Mandela Avenue while the young man was driving.

According to reports, Benn was pulled over by the Police, and was subsequently handcuffed and taken to the Brickdam Police Station.

This newspaper understands that, at the time he was pulled over, Benn was driving a heavily-tinted vehicle.

Benn was represented by attorney-at-law Moses Nagamootoo, who told the court that his client was taken to the Police station in handcuffs even after identifying himself as Public Works Minister Robeson Benn’s son.

He added that the Police acting in a cavalier manner cannot be condoned.
According to Nagamootoo, Benn is a student of the University of Guyana and an employee of the Geology and Mines Commission.

He also asked the magistrate for this matter to be referred to the Police Office of Professional Responsibility for a thorough investigation into the behaviour of the Police.

Nagamootoo contended that the way the Police acted was an abuse of authority and power.
According to Benn, the incident occurred on Friday, June 20, between 5:00pm and 6:00pm.
Benn said he was driving north on Mandela Avenue when he noticed a Police vehicle behind him. His girlfriend was in the vehicle with him at the time.

Benn said that he heard the siren once in the vicinity of Meadow Brook Drive, and it seemed that the Police were trying to overtake him.

According to the lawyer, while they were overtaking him, the junior Benn slowed down and asked the Police through the half open window of the car (PHH 3805) if they were trying to run into his back and that he is Minister Benn’s son. He said that Benn continued driving.

Benn contends that the Police vehicle pulled up alongside him and a Police officer in the left front of the vehicle pointed a gun at him and shouted that he was going to shoot the wheel if the driver did not stop.

Benn said that he immediately stopped on the road. This was just after Princes Street.
There was an exchange of words, and Benn was subsequently taken to the Police station.