THE two Berbice sisters who were seen in a video verbally abusing police officers at the Rose Hall Town Outpost were, on Thursday, placed on bail after they were slapped with 10 charges.

Yashmanie Ramsew, 22, called “Tina” and her elder sister, Hemwatttie Singh called “Mona” of Lot 3, Number 35 Village, appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court where the offences were read to them.

Ramsew was slapped with six charges: assaulting a Peace Officer; resisting a peace officer; disorderly behavior; dangerous driving; failure to stop at an accident, and failure to report an accident. The alleged offences occurred on December 3, at the Rose Hall Police Outpost.

She pleaded not guilty to all six counts. Bail was granted in the sum of $30,000 for the dangerous driving, $10,000 for resisting a peace officer and $10,000 for assault of a peace officer. Self-bail was granted for the other three charges. The duo was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Saphier Husain.

Meanwhile, Hemwattie “Mona” Singh was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 after the charges were read to her. The charge stated that on December 3 at Port Mourant Public Road, Singh assaulted Peace Officer, Umkar Sukhnandan, who was executing his duty.

Singh was placed on $30,000 bail for damage to property. It was alleged that she damaged a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at $100,000, property of a police
officer. Singh was also granted bail in the sum of $10,000 for assaulting a peace officer; $10,000 bail for resisting a peace officer and was placed on self-bail on the charge of disorderly behaviour.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges and told the court that she was beaten at the police outpost by a female officer. The young lady claimed that due to the alleged assault, she was hospitalised for two days.

Police Prosecutor, Rudolph Poliah objected to bail for the women for the offences of assaulting a peace officer and resisting a peace officer on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the matter. He told the court many times officers are faced with disrespect during the execution of their duties and that such occurrences/incidents are becoming a ‘habit’ when a person is confronted. He noted that the file is complete and they are ready to proceed with the trial.

The two women, in their defence, told the court that they did not refuse to cooperate nor did they assault any police officer. They noted, however, that they were both assaulted by a policewoman at the outpost. The magistrate made a note while adding that he expects an investigation into the allegations.

On December 3, it is alleged that Ramsew drove motorcar PTT 5628 and reportedly struck a parked vehicle on the Rose Hall Public Road. She drove away but her vehicle was subsequently intercepted at Port Mourant by a police patrol and was directed to the Rose Hall Outpost. There the outburst occurred.

A breathalyser test done on Ramsew revealed that she was below the legal alcohol limit. The matter will be called again on January 6 and 7 at the Whim and Albion Magistrate’s Court.