Businessman Granted Bail After Appealing Sentence for Assaulting Policeman

February 10 2025 – A 37-year-old Essequibo Coast businessman, Jairam Bissessar, who operates the Jagdesh Duck Curry Restaurant & Bar, has appealed his conviction and one-month prison sentence after being found guilty in absentia of assaulting a police officer.

According to the Police, the incident took place on January 2, 2025, at Lima Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, where Bissessar assaulted Corporal Hakim Atkins while he was carrying out his duties with the Anti-Crime Patrol Divisional Headquarters, Anna Regina.

On January 21, 2025, the matter was called before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

However, Bissessar was absent, leading to an ex parte trial—a legal proceeding conducted without the defendant’s presence.

After reviewing the evidence, the magistrate found Bissessar guilty and sentenced him to one month in prison.

Dissatisfied with the court’s ruling, Bissessar filed an appeal contesting both his conviction and sentence.

Pending the hearing and determination of his appeal, he sought bail from the High Court through his attorney, Bernard Da Silva.

Last Friday, Justices Damone Younge and Zamilla Ally-Seepaul heard his Fixed Date Application and granted him bail in the sum of $300,000.

As a condition of his release, Bissessar was ordered to surrender his passport and all other travel documents to the Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sub-Registry Essequibo.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was named as the sole respondent in the application, with State Counsel Abiola Lowe representing the office.

The court warned that failure to comply with the bail conditions could result in contempt of court, which may lead to imprisonment or asset forfeiture.

Bissessar now awaits the appeal hearing, where a final decision will be made on his conviction and sentence.