Former People’s National Movement (PNM) minister and Tobago East MP, Rennie Dumas, yesterday escaped jail time in an assault matter in which he was found guilty. Instead, he was fined a total of $18,500 when he appeared before Magistrate Nannette Ford-John for sentencing in the Scarborough Magistrates Court. In delivering the sentence, Ford-John fined Dumas $3,500 under the Offence Against A Person Act for the common assault charge, and $15,000 for the grievous bodily harm charge against Roger Simon.
The maximum fine under the Offence Against A Person Act is $4,000 or nine months hard labour, while the maximum fine for grievous bodily harm is $20,000 or two years hard labour. Dumas was found guilty of the offences arising out of a 2011 incident in which he had an altercation with Simon. He was ordered to pay the fine within 30 days and given 14 days to file an appeal.
Dumas told the T&T Guardian afterwards the outcome could have been worse and he was happy to be a free man. Dumas was represented by former attorney general John Jeremy and attorney Keith Scotland, who said they would consider their options in the matter.