At Kashif and Shanghai football game…
MARK Cromwell, 26, of Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, was put on $50,000 bail yesterday after he pleaded not guilty to committing an act to cause public terror.

Before Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at Providence Court, he was charged with having done so on Friday, January 2, in the National Stadium, also situated at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Police Superintendent Lawrence Kissoon said, during the early morning hours after the Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, the defendant threw a squib in the Presidential Booth, where President Bharrat Jagdeo was sitting and caused other persons to run for cover.

But Defence Counsel Glen Hanoman contended that the charge is exaggerated.

The lawyer claimed almost everyone at the venue were throwing firecrackers and Presidential Guards were instructed to find someone so that charges can be laid.

Hanoman argued that firecrackers cannot cause public terror and, if they can, the entire Guyana Defence Force (GDF) should be charged.

He said it is customary that firecrackers are used at the end of the football tournament and the case is one of a power play, because the devices were used in an open field, not in the seating area.

Cromwell has to make his next Court appearance on Monday, January 12.