Businessman Hamenauth Sarendranauth, who fought to get bail on COVID-19 charges, died yesterday – the day he was supposed to return to court.
And Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley, who filed the urgent bail application to get the first-time offender out of prison after he fell gravely ill while on remand, said the sad turn of events should signal the need for a gentler approach in the uncharted waters of COVID-19.
Sarendranauth was at the centre of a family battle with prison authorities after, while on remand at HMP Dodds, he was moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) unknown to his family, who found out two weeks later. His plight ignited public debate over the treatment of those who breached the COVID-19 directives, as Sarendranauth was initially remanded for a month pending sentencing.
On February 17, the Guyanese businessman, who was operating here for more than 20 years, pleaded guilty to contravening the Emergency Management COVID-19 Protocols Special Curfew No. 3 Directive 2021, by being the owner of a non-essential service, failing to remain closed on February 14 and February 16. (AC)
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