Derek Achong
A 38-year-old Pundit from central Trinidad has been released on bail after appearing in court charged with chopping a neighbour.
Vikram Angad, of Joyce Road, Carapichaima, was granted $200,000 bail Thursday as he appeared virtually before Magistrate Adrian Darmanie charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Angad is accused of attacking Outham Samaroo around 3.30 pm on August 30, 2021.
According to the summary of the evidence presented during his brief court appearance, Samaroo was in his garden located near his home when he was allegedly approached by Angad, who was armed with a cutlass.
Angad, the summary claimed, reportedly threatened to kill Samaroo.
Samaroo was chopped on the left wrist.
Although Samaroo’s hand was almost severed from his arm, he allegedly managed to chase after Angad, who jumped into a river and escaped.
Samaroo was taken for medical treatment and then made a report to the police.
The investigation was completed earlier this week and Angad was arrested at his home on Tuesday.
Upon his arrest, Angad reportedly denied any wrongdoing and claimed Samaroo attacked him with a piece of wood. He claimed he pushed Samaroo away and he (Samaroo) fell on a plastic tank that was cut in half before rolling down a hill and into a bamboo patch.
In applying for bail for Angad, his lawyer Bhimal Maharajh noted that apart from being a pundit at a Hindu temple in the community, he is employed as a truck driver.
Maharajh said that his client, who has an unblemished criminal record, should be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty and was relying on the utterances he made to police.
As part of the conditions of his bail, Angad was ordered to have no contact with Samaroo and to stay 200 metres away from him.
Angad is expected to reappear in court on December 23.
