The man accused of kidnapping a Penal mother of two has been sent to St Ann’s Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation after claiming he has visions of soucouyants, lagahoos and ghosts. Truck driver Manickchand Bisram, 44, was remanded yesterday to St Ann’s when he appeared before Siparia First Court magistrate Taramattie Ramdass on three indictable charges, including a sexual offence arising out of the alleged kidnapping. The woman, who is said to be in her late 20s, was allegedly snatched from her home on Monday and stuffed into a car trunk. She reportedly jumped from the trunk of the moving car to escape. She was helped by employees of Seebalack’s Hardware, off Rochard Road, Penal, who contacted the police and ambulance services.
Yesterday when Bisram, dressed in a dirty T-shirt and cream three-quarter cargo pants, appeared in court he stared blankly ahead while the magistrate read the charges. His elderly mother was the only member of the public allowed into the courtroom for the hearing. Defence attorney Ramnarine Soorjansingh pleaded with Ramdass to send him for evaluation. He said Bisram was experiencing visions. “He has been seeing visions of lagahoos and soucouyants. He needs evaluation. He is seeing big things in front of him, near him and he said people can’t see it. He needs to be evaluated,” Soorjansingh said. Ramdass, looked at the attorney and asked: “He is seeing what?” “He is seeing all sorts of visions, enemies, phantoms, ghosts,” Soorjansingh answered.
The magistrate looked at Bisram and said: “Okay.”
Soorjansingh said Bisram was involved in a common-law relationship and has no children. He said he was not in a relationship with the victim. Ramdass asked police prosecutor Sgt Sheldon Ablacksingh about the condition of the victim. He said she was treated at hospital and discharged. He said she did not attend court. Soorjansingh said his client had no convictions or pending matters. However, Ramdass asked the attorney to explain a 1998 motor vehicle larceny and robbery with violence charge listed on Bisram’s criminal record trace. The attorney said Bisram instructed him that those matters were dismissed. Ablacksingh said he would need some time to verify if the matters were dismissed.
The charges
Manickchand Bisram is accused of unlawfully taking and carrying away the victim at Bownath Trace, Penal, indecent assault and choking the victim with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He was not called upon to plead as all three charges were laid indictably by PC Nanan. Bisram will reappear in court on March 12.