A city businessman accused of assaulting a legal officer attached to the Mayor and City Council(M&CC) was exonerated after an investigation launched by the municipality revealed that he was wrongfully accused.
According to Mr. Ishwar Chand, of 36 Robb Street, Bourda, last November, Attorney-at-law Fitz Peters referred him to a legal officer at the M&CC, Ms. Carol Sooba, for her assistance with his outstanding tax payments.
He explained that he visited Ms. Sooba’s office on numerous occasions to inquire about the progress of the investigation concerning claims of outstanding tax payments.
“On Wednesday, 24th November, I visited Ms. Sooba at her office and asked about the investigations; after I was told about the findings I became upset and requested a further investigation,” he explained.
He pointed out that after the exchange, he was told to pay the arrears, at which time he angrily accused the council of extorting money from him and refused to pay the required sum.
Chand said, “We began to argue and I asked her for my transport which she had in her hand at the time; there was no physical altercation of any sort but she became upset when I threatened to go to the newspapers.”
Continuing, Mr. Chand explained that the incident was wrongfully reported in the Kaieteur News of November 27, 2010 under the caption “Taxpayer Assaults M&CC Legal Officer” which read, “…a terribly upset gentleman, upon hearing that he has a large  arrears at the office of the Mayor and City Council, began behaving disorderly . He also assaulted the municipal legal officer.”
Chand further explained that this article caused him much embarrassment within the business community, and it has negatively affected other members of his family living abroad.
“This has caused me much grief, especially as it relates to my business associates. It was posted on the internet and my son, who is a prominent physician in New York, was embarrassed as well,” Chand complained.
During a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle this week, Chief Constable at City Hall, Andrew Foo, confirmed that an investigation was launched after the alleged incident to determine what had transpired on the day in question.
He noted that it was determined that the accusations against Mr. Chand were found to be baseless.
“Based on the outcome of our investigations, it was determined that Mr. Chand never assaulted anyone on the day he visited the City Council ,” Chief Constable Foo revealed.
In response, Chand explained that he is relieved that the truth has finally come out and pointed out that he is looking forward to putting the entire incident behind him.
“I am happy that the investigation has revealed that no such incident occurred. I never assaulted the officer, never chucked  or hit her, but I did verbally represent myself,” he affirmed.