BAIL was granted in the sum of $1M to Nalindra Premnauth called “Avinash”, 25, of Lot 35 Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek, when he appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

The charge alleged that on April 16, 2018, Premnauth drove motorcar HC 2217 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of seventy-year-old Khemnie Chanchal.

The magistrate first set bail at $2M, however, after successful mitigation by the defendant’s attorney, Mursalene Bacchus, the sum was reduced to $1M cash bail. Bacchus pointed to the case of “Simpson and Pete”, where a ruling was handed down in that case indicating that if a driver is faced with an emergency situation, the driver should not be held accountable.

Meanwhile, on April 18, he was faced with the first charge of causing the death of Soorjanie Surjraj,52, when he made his appearance at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court. He was remanded to prison. However, on today’s appearance he was placed on self-bail.

The family was on their way home from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), when the driver reportedly lost control of the car and slammed into a parked motor Lorry on the Number 58 Village Public Road. The 52-year-old woman died on the spot while her 16-year-old daughter, Neaha Surjraj, and her mother Khemnie Chanchal were rushed to the Skeldon Hospital.

The younger Surjraj was treated and sent away while her grandmother was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital from where she was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC) where she succumbed to her injuries.

The case was transferred to the Number 51 Village Magistrate’s Court. Premnauth was also ordered to lodge his passport and report fortnightly to the Springlands Police Station. He will return to court on May 23.