BIBI ALI, a mother of six, was on Wednesday slapped with two charges when she appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court. The first charge read by Magistrate Moore to the defendant stated that on Saturday, August 18, at  Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, she damaged one vest valued at $500, one brief valued $500 and two window panes valued at $500,property of Jamal Shakir.
The second charge stated that Ali, on the same day, unlawfully assaulted Shakir so as to cause him actual bodily harm,to which she pleaded not guilty.
According to Police Prosecutor Joel Ali, investigations revealed that the woman had moved out of her matrimonial home and left her six children in the care of her husband, Jamal Shakir, some ten months ago.
During that time, the husband sought the intervention of the Probation Office for help. It was reported that the Probation Department contacted Ali, but she refused to return home.
Shakir apparently embarked on a relationship with another woman, and that information apparently got to the wife’s hearing. As a result she went back to the house and found her husband and a young woman in a comprising position and proceeded to assault him.
He too has been charged with assaulting her.
Shakir told the court that he no longer wants to be in any relationship with the defendant and wants the court to grant him custody of all the children, since she has two in her custody, and he wants her to stay away from him. Added to that, he indicated to the court that he no longer wished to offer evidence against Ali, while the woman said that she too, no longer wished to proceed with the criminal charge against her husband.
Nonetheless, Magistrate Alex Moore sent the couple on their own recognizance, not before advising that they seek counselling and comply with the probation officer’s guidance.