Tortured teen… Accused cops each granted $300,000 bail

Dec 01, 2009 News

The two policemen who were charged last Wednesday with torturing a teenaged suspect while he was in custody, appeared in court yesterday and were granted bail by the Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Constable Mohanram Dolai

Sergeant Narine Lall

The accused, Mohanram Dolai, 30, of 101 Meten-Meer-Zorg and Narine Lall, 38, of Leonora Police Station Compound, were jointly charged. On the last occasion, Dolai who was present in court was refused bail by the sitting authority at that time, Magistrate Priya Beharry.
It is alleged that on October 28 at Leonora Police Station, Lall and Dolai unlawfully and maliciously wounded Tyrone Thomas with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.
Lall, who was absent on the first occasion, was yesterday read the charge involving the teenager for the first time and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.
The men’s lawyer, attorney at law Hukumchand in his application for bail told the court that the prosecution has separated the offences. He added that as a result this case is now before the court. He said that the ones before were all out of the same circumstances.
Hukumchand noted that they were both granted bail by the High Court with assurance that they return to court when required to do so.
However, Police prosecutor Stephen Telford objected to bail on the basis that it is likely that they may abscond and he stated that they have a matter of a similar nature pending in court and asked that the magistrate take into view the seriousness of the incident with the victim being 15 years old.
Hukumchand responded that there is no likelihood of his clients recommitting the acts or of them absconding.
Magistrate Robertson subsequently granted them both bail, $300,000 each. They are both expected to make another appearance at Leonora Magistrate’s Court on December 15.
(Jamal Scott)