Another baggage tout fined
Stabroek News
November 11, 2003
"All of us got to live," was all that convicted baggage tout Leon Barker had to say for himself while appearing in court yesterday after being held at the Timehri Airport on Sunday.
Barker, address not known, admitted to three offences before Acting Chief Magistrate, Juliet Holder-Allen and. He was fined $1,000 for soliciting passengers' baggage and two $5,000 fines, one for resisting arrest and another for assault. The incidents took place on November 9 and they involved Special Police Constable Raymond Bacchus.
Barker and a group of others were caught soliciting passengers' baggage without the approval of the Director of Civil Aviation.
On executing his duties as a police officer, Bacchus, dressed in uniform, went over to Barker questioning whether he had permission to carry the passenger's bags. When Barker said no and continued soliciting the baggage, an attempted arrest was made on him. It was then that Barker committed his second and third offence when refusing arrest and then pushing Bacchus. He was later arrested and charged following investigations. The magistrate told Barker yesterday that he should seek permission in writing from the Aviation Department to solicit baggage. This was followed by the court prosecutor stating that after applying to the department he would have to be screened before permission is granted.j2