Minister’s son spends night in jail Infirmary

The alleged perpetrator in a “planass” attack on a customer at a doubles stand in Woodbrook secured bail yesterday after having spent Tuesday night behind bars. Shane Aleong, 28 of Ellerslie Park, Maraval, was granted $25,000 bail to be approved by a clerk of the peace, when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Annette Mc Kenzie in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Court on Tuesday afternoon. A cash alternative of $10,000 was also granted.

However, owing to his late court appearance on Tuesday, Aleong’s relatives were unable to secure his bail by the end of the business day. As a result he was taken by the prison authorities to the Remand Yard, Golden Grove, Arouca. The T&T Guardian learned prison officials opted to keep Aleong away from the other inmates and put him in the infirmary, where he spent Tuesday night. His bail was taken by Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan around 12.30 pm yesterday.

Aleong pleaded not guilty to using obscene language; assaulting Gregory Wight, occasioning him actual bodily harm and possession of a weapon with intent to commit an offence. It is alleged that on September 19 at Carlos Street, Woodbrook, Aleong allegedly used obscene language, assaulted Wight, a businessman, and  used a cutlass with the intent to wound.

Aleong, the son of Education Minister, Dr Tim Gopeesingh, was represented by attorneys Ravi Rajcoomar and John Heath, instructed by Nalini Bansie. He was charged by Sgt Christopher Joshua and will reappear on October 9.