Jet Ski rider charged with manslaughter of 9 year old

By Malisa Playter Harry

A 37-year-old man was today charged with manslaughter and placed on $1M bail for causing the death of a 9-year-old boy at the Number 63 beach on Emancipation Day (August 01, 2016).

Viaj Arjunandan, an Excavator operator of Crabwood Creek Upper Corentyne Berbice appeared at the #51 Magistrate Court before Magistrate Charlyne Artiga where he pleaded “not guilty” to the lesser count of Manslaughter. He was charged under Section 94 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 801 and on $1 Million bail.

His passport was lodged and he is to report to the #51 Police Station every Friday until his next court date.

He is expected to return to court on the 14th September, 2016.

According to a Post Mortem report on 9-year-old Daniel Mootoosammy who lost his life on Monday while being transported from the beach to the Skeldon Hospital, he died of asphyxiation with a fractured skull.

It is alleged that on August 1, Daniel Mootoosammy along with other relatives went to partake in the #63 Beach Emancipation Day activities and while he was playing in the shallow part of the water, he was hit from behind by a Jet Ski.

Relatives rushed to Mootoosammy’s assistance. He was picked up and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital, however he succumbed before arriving at the hospital.