Bail for radio announcer on assault charge

Apr 09, 2014 Peeping Tom

After spending one week in remand, radio announcer Ossie Rogers was yesterday granted conditional bail by an East Coast Magistrate. Rogers is before the court on an assault charge involving a teenage girl, and using threatening behaviour.
Rogers, who is attached to the National Television Network (NTN), appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and was ordered to comply with three conditions for bail.

Ossie Rogers leaves the courtroom.

Last week, the Broadcaster was indicted before Magistrate Moore and was remanded to prison.
He is accused of dealing a 13-year-old girl several slaps moments after barging into her Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD) yard and confronting her about text messages she sent to a mutual male friend’s phone.
Rogers was charged too for threatening behaviour towards the teen’s mother, who reportedly rushed to the teen’s aid.
When the charges were first read to him last week, Rogers pleaded not guilty and submitted a bail application through his lawyer, Dexter Todd. Attorney Subas Ganesh is also representing Rogers.
While both offences are bailable, the teen’s mother during the one-hour-long court hearing last week, claimed that she fears for her life since Rogers has been making other threats to her and her family.
The case is being prosecuted by Inspector Hattie Anthony, who on that occasion, was ordered to launch a probe into the new allegations.
Yesterday, Inspector Anthony indicated that the investigations are incomplete and requested three weeks to conclude a probe into the allegation. She added that more charges will likely be laid against Rogers.
Magistrate Moore, in response, stated that the cases of remanded prisoners are supposed to be expedited and since the investigations are incomplete he would grant conditional bail to the accused.
For the assault charge, Rogers was granted bail to the tune of $25,000 bail and $15,000 for the threatening behaviour.
Moore ordered Rogers to refrain from contacting the young lady or her mother personally. He was instructed too to refrain from visiting their home or its environs.
For bail, neither Rogers nor an agent acting on his behalf can violate the aforementioned terms.
The latter condition was met with objections by his lawyer who opined that his client can be wrongfully blamed since “it is possible for purported agents to claim they were solicited by him.”
Magistrate Moore, however, remained resolute on his three conditions. He indicated that it may be an uphill task, but if any such allegation is leveled it is something that must be proven in court.
The prosecution was granted three weeks to complete its investigation. The case will be called again on May 8 for report.