NEWSDAY
By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Wednesday, November 12 2014

FOR failing to provide a specimen of breath, for a breathalyser test, a Chaguanas magistrate yesterday placed a 51-year-old self-employed mother on a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next four months.

“Do not let this happen again. At your age, you are supposed to be setting a better example,” Magistrate Brahmanand Dubay said to Osha Bassaw, after he passed the sentence on her. Bassaw appeared in the Third Court before the magistrate and pleaded guilty to the offence. Court prosecutor Sgt Ken Ali told the court that at about 7.10 pm on Monday, police intercepted a blue Toyota Rav 4, driven by Bassaw.

The officers had earlier received a report that the said vehicle was involved in an accident and the driver failed to stop.

The prosecutor added that while police were questioning Bassaw, they detected alcohol in her breath, her eyes were bloodshot and speech slurred.

Police took her to the Cunupia Police Station where they explained the procedure of providing a specimen of breath for a breathalyser test.

The prosecutor told the court that she blew into the instrument lightly and after several attempts she refused to blow as directed.

Constable Sanowar of the Cunupia Police Station then charged her with the offence.

Attorney Taradath Singh, who represented Bassaw, said earlier in the evening she had attended a celebration for her grandson and en route to her home in Cunupia she stopped at a Chinese Restaurant.

The attorney added that while leaving the restaurant’s compound, she grazed the bumper of another vehicle and that driver wanted her to pay $1,000 in compensation for the damage.

Singh said she refused to pay the money and left the scene.

He explained that Bassaw, the holder of a Driver’s Permit for 31 years, had never received a ticket for a traffic offence or had an accident.

The prosecutor pointed out that the mother admitted to having alcohol in her system adding that she would not have had proper control of her vehicle.

Dubay bonded her in the sum of $5,000 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next four months. In default Bassaw will return to court for sentencing.