DPP discontinues charge against lawyer accused of using racial slurs against cop
The private criminal charge instituted by Police Constable Shaunette Bollers against Attorney-at-Law Nirvan Singh was today discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.
While the Court Prosecutor provided no reason, Article 187 of the Constitution empowers the DPP to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence against the law of Guyana.
It also allows her to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person or authority and to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other person or authority.
Last month, Singh of Middle and Cummings Street, Georgetown, was hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and charged with willfully excited and/or attempted to excite hostility and ill-will against Bollers on the ground of her race as an Afro-Guyanese.
He had denied the charge and was placed on $100,000 bail and instructed by the court not to contact the virtual complainant by any means. It is alleged that on March 20, 2022, Singh hurled racial comments toward the constable.
In her lawsuit filed with the High Court, Bollers, through attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson stated that Singh approached her on the night in question and chased her out of the property, forcing her to abandon her post and duties for the night.
The policewoman argued that in chasing her out, the Attorney-at-Law used the following words to her in a loud and aggressive manner, which amounted to defamation of her character.
"Get out!, get off my property!... you monkey, a black monkey (you) black people have no purpose in life," Bollers said in her lawsuit, noting that the ordeal lasted for 14 minutes.
Following the ordeal, the policewoman said she fled the scene and walked a couple of miles to another location in Georgetown in the dark of night alone.
She noted that she receives professional counselling and therapy to help restore normal sleep and eating patterns ravaged by slander and attendant events.
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