Customs Officer gets $200,000 bail for shooting horse-cart operators

A Custom Enforcement Officer was today granted bail after being slapped with two counts of discharging a loaded firearm.

49-year-old David Ali of Lot 31 Kersaint Park, La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD) was hauled before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and denied the charges.

The charges alleged that on March 13, 2022, at La Bonne Intention, ECD, he discharged a loaded firearm at Anil Persaud and Reygon Gonzales with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.

The 49-year-old man was placed on $100,000 bail on each of the charges, and the matter was postponed until March 20.

Reports are that at around 16:00h on the day in question, the operators went to an empty lot situated west of the suspect’s home to cut grass for their horses.

The suspect reportedly discharged several rounds in their direction while cutting the grass, causing both operators to become injured.

They were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where they underwent surgeries.

The accused was contacted by police and told of the offence. He handed over his licenced 9mm gun and 12 matching rounds in the magazine.

Police had reported that Ali claimed that the operators attempted to enter his yard, causing him to discharge the firearm in the air and then in the duo's direction.