Doctor accused of biting cop pleads not guilty

DOCTOR MARK JOSEPH, who is accused of biting a policeman, pleaded not guilty to the three charges in the Couva Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Joseph, who had a small bandage on the right side of his face, appeared before Magistrate Jane O’Connor charged with obscene language, possession of a weapon and assaulting Corporal Naresh Ramlogan. Joseph was previously granted $15,000 bail by a Justice of the Peace after he was charged by Cpl Ramlogan and Sgt Burke on Thursday. The medical practitioner, who is attached to the Accident and Emergency Department of the San Fernando General Hospital, was discharged from the hospital’s Psychiatric Unit on Thursday after being warded for four days.

Joseph, 39, of Exchange Lot, Couva, was represented by attorney Neil Ojar, when he appeared in court yesterday. Insp Lawrence Rondon who led the prosecution case told the magistrate that Cpl Ramlogan is due to go on vacation from June 2 to August 25, 2004, and would be leaving the country. Cpl Ramlogan was not in court. The magistrate adjourned the matter to May 29.