More time needed to evaluate man charged with stealing PTSC bus

ST ANN's Psychiatric Hospital wants more time to evaluate Bharat Ramjeawan. As a result, he was not sent to the Chaguanas Magistrates' Court yesterday for 16 charges to be read to him, one of which includes stealing a bus.

When the case was called, attorney Shiva Boodoo told magistrate Christine Charles that Ramjeawan, 55, of Ravine Sable Road, Longdenville, had not been brought to court. Court prosecutor Insp Wayne Waithe announced that St Ann's needed more time to assess Ramjeawan.

On his first appearance on November 29, the charges were not read to Ramjeawan.

They arose from an incident on November 19, in which he is alleged to have stolen a Public Service Transport Service Corporation bus from the Chaguanas terminal.

The bus crashed into a woman's home at Edinburgh Road, Cashew Gardens, Chaguanas, injuring her. She was treated at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

Sixteen charges were slapped on Ramjeawan, but when he first appeared in court, his attorney asked for the charges not to be read, but that tRamjeawan should be given a mental evaluation. Charles committed him to St Ann's and postponed the case to yesterday.

Waithe told Charles that the police complainant was informed orally that the hospital authorities needed more time to assess Ramjeawan. She asked if any written correspondence was sent, but there was none.

The magistrate said she was minded not to postpone the case beyond 14 days, but Boodoo said it would be unfair for Ramjeawan to be released from the hospital to the prison authorities on Boxing Day for his court appearance. The magistrate ordered that he should be brought to court on December 21.

Ramjeawan is also facing charges of robbery with aggravation, six counts of dangerous driving, three counts of failing to stop after an accident, three counts of failing to render aid, failing to stop as instructed by police and driving without a driver’s permit and valid insurance.