Five men charged for DUI

Failure to pay the fine will see each of the offenders serve six months hard labour for the offence.

They appeared before a magistrate in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

A total of 45 persons were arrested for drunk driving in Penal, Siparia, Santa Flora, Point Fortin and Cedros. Yesterday, 25 drunk drivers appeared in the Point Fortin Court while another 20 appeared in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court.

The men were held between Carnival Saturday and Tuesday in traffic exercises spearheaded by Sgt Gosine and his team of the South Western Division DUI Unit.

Police said 200 persons participated in a voluntary breathalyser testing during the period.

Police also seized 96.5 kilograms of marijuana during one of the exercises. According to a report, at about12.20 pm on Carnival Monday, police officers intercepted a sliver Nissan Wingroad travelling along the Southern Main Road in Cap de Ville, Point Fortin.

The two male occupants abandoned the vehicle and escaped, police reported.

However on Wednesday, the officers with the help of footage from surveillance cameras identified the suspects and subsequently arrested and charged them with the offence.

They were expected to appear before a magistrate yesterday.