Fight with transport inspector leads to hefty bail sum

A Hanover bus operator who allegedly attacked and injured a transport inspector during a confrontation at a bus station was offered J$1 million bail when he appeared in the St James Parish Court last Wednesday.

Dwayne Hislop is charged with wounding with intent.

The court was told that Hislop, who plies the Lucea to Montego Bay route, got into an argument with one of three transport operators while he was parked at the bus station.

The argument escalated into a fight, in which the complainant was wounded and had to seek medical attention.

During Hislop's bail hearing, presiding judge Sandria Wong-Small set the bail amount with three sureties, after the prosecution expressed concern that he might interfere with the complainant or witnesses in the case if he should be offered bail.

But Hislop's attorney, Henry McCurdy, argued that his client could not afford such a high sum as he was "of humble means". He then asked for it to be reduced to J$500,000.

"I am not prepared to reduce the amount to J$500,000. When certain persons are doing their jobs, people must not interfere with them," Wong-Small said.

Following further discussions, the bail sum was eventually set at J$750,000, with the condition that Hislop should surrender his fingerprints to the police and not have any contact with the witnesses.

The case will be mentioned again on November 28.