Cop charged for drunk driving

Satrohan Gowkarran, a Police Constable who struck a pedestrian at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD) in a drunken state late last week, plead guilty and was fined for driving under the influence (DUI) when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The Policeman admitted that while being under the influence of alcohol, he drove his motorcar HC 2850 which hit and caused injuries to Quintin Anderson, 49, of Uitvlugt, WCD on Friday last.
Gowkarran entered a plea of guilty at his arraignment before West Demerara Magistrate Roshell Liverpool. He was fined G$7500 and his driver’s licence was endorsed, given that this was the first such offence. It is unclear how the endorsement was entered since most of the new and renewed licences for motor vehicle drivers are digital. Under the old system, the endorsements were entered in the licencee’s book.
Nevertheless, the Police disclosed on Tuesday that the matter has not yet concluded since the investigation into the accident is still incomplete. Meanwhile, the victim, Quintin Anderson, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and is said to be in a stable condition.
Reports indicate the accident occurred around 22:40h on the night in question. Gowkarran was proceeding East along the northern carriageway of the road when he struck the pedestrian who was at the time crossing the road from South to North. Anderson fell onto the road, receiving injuries and a fractured left foot. He had been rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he remained before being transferred to Georgetown.
In August, two accidents involving junior Police ranks were recorded which resulted in the death of 58-year-old Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara, who had succumbed two days after she was struck down on the Success Public Road; and Eno David, 22, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini). He was struck down at the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara by a Police rank who was reportedly transporting an injured colleague, who himself was involved in a separate car accident in the early morning hours. However, Police noted that no alcohol was traced when breathalyser tests were conducted on those two ranks.