Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

A minibus driver, who was remanded on September 15 when he appeared in the Mandeville Resident Magistrate's Court for a breach of the Road Traffic Act, was on Wednesday offered bail by a Supreme Court judge.

Resident Magistrate Sonia Bertarm Linton had denied Selvin Williams bail and ordered that he be taken to court on October 19 for trial.

Defence lawyer Kenneth Fergu-son, in applying for bail in chambers at the Supreme Court, said that Williams would have to remain in custody for 22 days before his trial. He said that if Williams had pleaded guilty or had been convicted of the offence, he would not be incarcerated for such a long time.

Dirk Harrison, Crown Counsel, did not oppose bail.

Justice Leighton Pusey granted Williams bail in the sum of $50,000 with a surety, and ordered him to report to the Mandeville Police Station on Mondays and Fridays.

Williams is charged with aiding and abetting the escape of a minibus conductor who had committed a breach of the Road Traffic Act.

Causing an obstruction

The incident allegedly took place in the Mandeville bus park, Manchester, on September 12. The allegations are that a policeman observed a minibus causing an obstruction in the bus park. He went to Williams who was the driver of the minibus and told him to remove it.

The policeman said while he was speaking to Williams, the bus conductor allegedly committed an offence and he arrested him. It is further alleged that Williams held on to the policeman and pulled away the bus conductor. The bus conductor went into the minibus and Williams drove away the vehicle.