A butcher and bus driver, who was fined following a viral video of him snatching a passenger’s phone after complaints of noise nuisance was circulated, has denied assault and damage to property charges.
Josh Harry of Lot 28 Back Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts when he denied the charges read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
It is alleged that on April 12 at Houston Greater Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted Odella Peroune and unlawfully and maliciously damaged a cellphone screen valued $40,000, property of Peroune.
He was placed on $10,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until May 14.
He previously appeared before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse and was fined $80,000 after he admitted to breach of condition of road service license, making loud and continuous noise, conduct of driver and failing to carry a conductor.
According to the facts in the matter, on April 12, at Houston Public Road Greater Georgetown, while he was the driver of minibus BYY 8024, which was proceeding north along Houston Public Road, a passenger of the bus complained about the bus having no conductor and the continuous noise which was becoming a nuisance.
The driver stopped the bus in a rash manner and approached the passenger before snatching her cell phone out of her hand. In the process of doing so, he hit her on her mouth, causing his conduct as a driver of public transportation, to be inappropriate.
The matter was reported and investigations were carried out. Following a search of the vehicle carried out by the police, a 2.6 inch Faital Pro Speakers, 2.8 inch Faital Pro Speakers, a 1000 watt power amplifier and an Audiopipe, all instruments of music which were not authorized by the prescribed authority were confiscated.
He was arrested and charged by police and was later released on $30,000 station bail .
