Prisons officer among 40 charged with drunken driving

An American citizen and a prisons officer were among 40 people charged with drunken driving over the weekend. The exercises, headed by Supt Franklin Sampath, ASP Zamsheed Mohammed and Sgt Vijai Ramdhanie, took place throughout the Southern and South Western Divisions. A total of six exercises were carried out  between 7 pm on Saturday and 6 am yesterday at Penal, Barrackpore, San Fernando, Fyzabad and Golconda. Police said they responded to a report of a minor road traffic accident on Coffee Street, San Fernando. Police alleged that while they were in the process of interviewing witnesses, they saw the 41-year-old prisons officer, of St Augustine, staggering.

They said the officer was unable to stand properly. He was taken to the San Fernando Police Station where he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Meanwhile, around 11.30 pm, officers led by Sgt Ramdhanie, said they were on duty at Mon Repos, when they observed the American citizen swerving his car from side to side. The 32-year-old man of Louisiana, USA, who is currently staying at a hotel in San Fernando, was taken to the police station where he also underwent the breathalyser test. He too was charged with drunken driving.

Meanwhile, ten others from Barrackpore, Picton, Golconda and Debe were charged with similar offences. In the South Western Division, a total of 28 people were charged with the same offence. All 40 people are expected to appear in court today.