A Debe contractor who admitted he offered a policeman $4,800 as a bribe to forego a drunk driving charge has been ordered to pay almost twice the amount in fines within a month or face nine months in jail.
Father of three, Indar Manki, 54, pleaded guilty to both charges before San Fernando Traffic Court Magistrate Natalie Diop some two years after the incident took place. He had initially pleaded not guilty.
The magistrate rejected a request to return the $4,800 offered to the police officer and instead ordered that the money be forfeited to the State.
Manki was charged that on September 4, 2015 at SS Erin Road, Debe, he tried to induce PC Sujeet Ramcharan by offering him $4,800 to forego prosecution against him.
The second charge stated that he failed to provide a specimen of his breath for testing.
According to prosecutor Sgt Kassiram Lutchman, around 9 pm Ramcharan stopped Manki’s car near the sawmill. Upon interviewing him, the officer detected a strong scent of alcohol on his breath.
Manki admitted to drinking six beers and two drinks of scotch whiskey.
Upon being administered the Field Sobriety Test, Manki failed with a reading of 63 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. He was told that he was required to do two more tests for evidential purposes.
When his first test scored a reading of 67 microgrammes, Manki said, “Boss, here what happen.
I will pay my fine right here.” When the officer asked what he meant by that, Manki said, “I giving you $4,000 now.”
He dipped into his pocket and handed the officer a sum of money. When the officer checked the money it amounted to $4,800.
Manki’s attorney Renne Gosine said his client had an alcohol problem, but he has been attending counselling and rehabilitation sessions.
“He has transformed himself and he does not consume alcohol. He is also a vegetarian.”
Gosine said Manki never before appeared in court on a criminal charge.
He said his client’s attempt at bribing the officer happened because he was under the influence of alcohol.
Gosine said Manki is a contractor, but was not working presently because he had injured his back and his wife was also ill.
The magistrate commended Manki for taking steps to address his problem.
However, she said the court must send a clear message that that type of behaviour will not be tolerated at any level.
She fined him $4,000 on the drunk driving charge and $5,000 on the bribery charge.
