South docs square off in court

Ryan pleaded “not-guilty” before Magistrate Adrian Dharmanie in the Fourth Police Court to the charge which stemmed from an alleged confrontation two Mondays ago between Ryan and specialist opthamologist Dr Dexter Furlonge.

Ryan was served with a summons to appear in court to answer the charge of assaulting Furlonge with intent to cause actual bodily harm. Ryan was accompanied to court by his wife Leaflet, a senior pharmacist and daughters’ Sharon and Danielle Ryan-McNichols.

Several of his medical colleagues including vice-president of the Medical Professionals’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT) Dr Rajendra Persad also attended court. Ryan’s attorney Dexter Bailey told the court his client had filed cross-charges against Furlonge.

Bailey together with Kevin Rattiram are Ryan’s legal counsel. Bailey told the court that the cross-charge alleges Dr Furlonge used violent language and assaulted him (Ryan). These matters were also listed to be called yesterday at the Third Court.

Prosecutor Sgt Joey Samaroo told the court Furlonge wanted the matter to be completed by month’s end since he expected to leave the country by that time. Asked by the magistrate when will Furlonge be expected back, Sgt Samaroo said the doctor was going abroad to work for two years.

Dharmanie adjourned the matter to August 4, after it was agreed by both sides that the case will begin on that day. The cross-charges were postponed to August 13.