A Bridgetown store owner was reprimanded and discharged today after appearing in court for using insulting language to a police constable.
Hiro Uttamchandani, 46, of #8 Sunset Drive North, Fort George Heights, St Michael, pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today.
The owner of Tropicana Jewellers called a police constable a “damn idiot” on Monday.
The facts, as presented to the court, are that Constable Chinua Moore was on duty on Swan Street when he got a complaint from someone who had a cellular phone and cash stolen from him while he was inside Tropicana Jewellers.
Moore went back to the store with the complainant with a view to reviewing the security camera footage. However, when he asked Uttamchandani to allow him to do so, the man replied: “I will not help you because I ain’t forget you from Saturday stopping me from selling outside the store.”
Moore left and returned with a sergeant of police and the complainant. The sergeant spoke with Uttamchandani on Swan Street but after doing so, the store owner looked towards Moore and told him: “You’re a damn idiot.”
The constable informed him that it was an offence to do so and asked for his name and address, which he refused to give. Uttamchandani was then arrested and charged.
Today, his attorney Albert Pollard told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that his client’s actions were “out of character” and that the words were uttered in the absence of the public.
Pollard said Uttamchandani was born, raised and schooled in Barbadian culture. He further urged the court not to record a conviction against the first time offender since he travelled extensively as a businessman.
“I want to apologize to the officer and the court for the incident,” Uttamchandani said.
He was reprimanded and discharged.