A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Irish national appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday, charged with using threatening language towards President Donald Ramotar.

Particulars of offence said, on Good Friday, at City Boy Club, Tabitinga, Lethem, Rupununi, Cellian James Crosson made use of the threat, in the absence of the Head of State, but in the hearing of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall.
Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, stated that the defendant, who pleaded not guilty, threatened to shoot the President and Dharamlall overheard and spoke to him but he repeated his words.
Attorney-at-law, Mr. Glenn Hanoman, for the defence, told the court the Irish teenager is a Project Trust volunteer teacher at Shulinab, also in Rupununi and, that day, having consumed alcohol, was intoxicated.
The lawyer said the defendant had been in police custody for more than 100 hours and asked for the latter to return to Rupununi and continue his services, since his hinterland students are preparing to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.
But the prosecutor objected to bail, based on the fact that the threat was directed to no other than the Head of State and the defendant is from another country and may not attend his trial.
However, the magistrate ordered that Crosson lodge $60,000 surety and report to Lethem Police Station every Monday at 09:00 hrs. His next appearance is on April 30.