AFC Councillor charged for brutalizing Plantain Chip vendor

A Regional Councillor attached to the APNU-AFC coalition and of Region 5 has been placed on $100,000 bail on a felonious wounding charge, which he committed against a plantain chip vendor on Sunday, January 21, 2018, at Number 11 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Abel Seetaram, 37, of Lot 121 Section ‘B’ Woodley Park pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

The court heard that on January 21, 2018, Seetaram wounded 54-year-old Nateram Rabindranauth with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.

News Room understands that at about 18:30 hrs on the day in question, Seetaram and Rabindranauth had a misunderstanding which led to a heated argument.

According to reports, Abel, who represents the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition in the region, was overheard shouting at police ranks and telling them that he knows “Khemraj”, presumably the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. Seetaram also claimed that he is a “big boy in the Government” and that no one can do him anything.

At the time of the incident, Rabindranauth, who was seated on a bicycle, which he uses to ply his trade, was dragged off by Seetaram, who reportedly proceeded to hit him several times about his body; he was left on the ground unresponsive before being rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was admitted.

After hearing the case, the Magistrate granted Seetaram bail and ordered that he report to the Fort Wellington Police Station once every Friday until the termination of the matter.

Seetaram is expected to return to court on February 07, 2018.