POLICE Detective, 24-year-old Paramanand Sookdeo, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with attempt to commit a felony. Sookdeo, of Tain Village, Port Mourant, Corentyne,Berbice, was represented by Bernard De Santos and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on January 8, 2017, he entered the dwelling home of Nandkishore Persaud at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, with intent to commit a felony.
His lawyer however told the court that his client was intoxicated at the time of the incident and it was all a misunderstanding. In his bail application, De Santos explained that on the night in question, his client was consuming alcohol at a house with some friends in the area where the alleged incident occurred.
“Sookdeo left, went to the public road and was unable to recognise the house where he was drinking with his friend in his drunken state,” De Santos told the court, as he explained that the officer was recently placed at the Timehri Police Station a mere two months ago and is not familiar with the area.
He further noted that in a drunken state, the officer missed the house and went into the wrong home nearby and attempted to call out for his friend, but no one answered, causing the man to venture into the premises.
“The occupant from the home came down and was under the impression that Sookdeo was a thief and gave him a sound trashing….. But it wasn’t till he identified himself as a police then they stopped beating him,” the lawyer stressed.
De Santos further contended that Sookdeo has instructed him that criminal charges of assault will be filed against Persaud and other persons who beat him during the ordeal.
The magistrate released the cop on $75,000 bail, which was not objected to by police prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers. The magistrate then adjourned the matter until January 19, 2017 and ordered Sookdeo to report to the Whim Police Station every Friday.