THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD dredge owner Dexter John of Lot 109 La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD and 48-year-old Viola Morrison of Section C, Block ‘Y’ Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, accused of abducting Bhena’s Footwear salesman Leon Waldijk, and were each placed on $500,000 bail.Represented by attorney-at-law Gordon Gilhuys, they each denied the allegation, which detailed that on May 04 at Regent Street, Georgetown, they abducted Waldijk so as to cause him to be

wrongly restrained.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru explained to the court that, on the day in question, Waldijk was about to enter his place of work when he was approached by an identifiable man who pushed him into a parked car which sped away with him.

Mangru noted that the two defendants were apprehended after police reviewed CCTV footage from outside the store, which led to their arrest.

Mr. Gordon Gilhuys asked that his clients be released on reasonable bail, and the prosecutor made no objection to bail being granted the duo. However, the magistrate told the lawyer that the penalty attached to the offence of kidnapping ranges from over $750,000 bail to jail time, thus he could not ask for a more reasonable bail.

The matter was adjourned until June 05 for statements.
(Clestine Juan)