Neeraj Mohammad Bhageeruthy, 30, an employee of the Cargo Handling Corporation (CHC) Ltd, was brought before the Flacq Magistrate’s Court on Friday 25 November on a provisional charge of possession of offensive weapons. The resident of EDC City, Terre-Rouge was driving his car in Saint-Remy, Flacq when he was found in possession of two knives. In addition, he tested positive for alcohol. Earlier, he threatened a resident of this eastern village with a pistol.
Neeraj Mohammad Bhageeruthy gave police officers at the Flacq police station a hard time in the late afternoon of Thursday 24 November. It was following a request made by a 28-year-old telephone operator at around 5pm that a team of police officers went to Saint Remy, Flacq. On the way, the police officers found a silver Kia car described by the complainant. On reaching the police vehicle, the driver, who was holding a beer can in his left hand, was to say something communal. He reeked of alcohol and spoke in a gruff voice.
When questioned by these policemen, he had to answer arrogantly, “wey monn bwar zot pou ferm mwa kisa”. It was with great difficulty that he got out of his vehicle at the request of the police officers. Several bank notes were found in his presence on the front passenger seat. With his consent, his car was searched. A toy pistol was found near his clutch, a knife with a forty centimetre blade under the passenger seat and another knife with a fifteen centimetre blade. He was unable to explain the presence of these offensive weapons in his car. He had to tell the police, “…ale guette…. You’re going to fer fer ti mama mo pou fini sorti’.
The suspect was then to state, “ti ena Rs 500 000 dan mo loto mo po b… fos case”. However, the whole operation was recorded by a police officer. Neeraj Mohammad Bhageeruthy was resisting these policemen. He was arrested and taken to Flacq police station. His car was locked in his presence and placed in view of a surveillance camera. The angry driver had to shout to the police, “mo fou mwa amenn mwa mental”. He became violent and started knocking over tables. He threw himself on a table before grabbing a fire extinguisher and diary books and throwing them. While knocking over tables and chairs, he slipped and hit a wooden table. He then injured his mouth.
During the night, a breathalyzer test was performed on him by a police officer from the Emergency Response Service, and he tested positive. He had 56 micrograms of alcohol in his breath.
