On victim’s petition…
BHAGWANDAT Singh, who is charged with unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to the dwelling house of his reputed wife, Cheryl Ann La Fleur, has been granted $35,000 bail in the Berbice High Court.

He secured the grant from Justice Winston Patterson yesterday, through a petition by La Fleur, of Bownes Bush Dam, Cumberland, East Canje.

In her supporting affidavit, she said her reputed husband appeared before a magistrate on June 25, when he denied the arson allegation but was refused pre-trial liberty.

The petitioner, through attorney-at-law Mr. Joseph Misir, said Singh is innocent of the charge because, at the time of the blaze, he was intoxicated and his grasp was weak. 

La Fleur said Singh was attempting to light a lamp which fell from his hand, spilling kerosene which quickly set the place afire.

The woman said Singh, despite his condition, did everything to protect her and their three children, firstly by making sure they were safely out of the building before he abandoned it.

La Fleur said she verily believes Singh did not act in an unlawful or malicious manner and the occurrence was merely accidental.

According to the deponent, Singh, a logger, is the lone breadwinner in the family and, while she is the owner of the property that was destroyed, it was bought with money jointly earned by the two of them.

State Counsel Fabayo Azore represented the Prosecution at the hearing of the application.