Latest update March 28th, 2026 12:13 AM
Latest News
Bus driver given suspended sentence for whipping tout with belt
Apr 21, 2012 News
A 34-year-old bus driver was yesterday given a suspended six-month jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to removing a belt from his pants waist and whipping a minibus tout who proceeded to take passengers out of his minibus.
Lloyd Phillips also known as “Wild Pine” yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the offence of unlawful assault which he committed against Michael Mano. The incident took place on April 19 at the Stabroek Market area where Phillips operates his transport on the route 45 minibus park.
The police claimed that on the day in question, the defendant noticed that the victim was loading a minibus with his passengers. He became annoyed and walked up to the tout and an argument ensued between the two.
Phillips then pulled out his belt from his pants waist and dealt Mano several lashes about his body causing him to receive injuries. The matter was reported and the defendant was charged with the offence.
When given a chance to speak, Phillips first clarified that the victim was not a conductor, that he is in fact a tout and a nuisance on the bus park. He said it was a regular habit for the tout to enter people’s buses and take out passengers after one would have solicited them.
“My Worship when you put in one passenger, by time you turn round and go and look for another one, he’s go in ya bus and tek out de people them.”
Phillips alleged that on that particular day he had got a man and a woman to join his bus. He said that he left the persons and went to seek other passengers but by the time he could return, the persons had exited his bus and the tout was seen off loading the bag of rice that the persons had entered with.
Phillip said he became angry and went up to the tout and an argument started. He said he subsequently pulled out his belt and lashed the minibus tout.
The driver agreed with the court that it was the wrong thing to do and that he should have reported the matter to the police.
The court told Phillips that he would be given a six-month jail sentence, but it would be suspended. It was further explained that the six-month sentence came with a two-year bond which meant that for that two year period, he is not to get into any trouble punishable by law.
Phillips was warned that if he is convicted of any offence during that two-year period, he would have to serve the sentence of the crime along with the six-month sentence that has been suspended.
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.