Last Updated on Thursday, 28 August 2014, 21:30 by GxMedia
The Turkish-born Australian manager of Princess Hotel’s Casino has been charged with assaulting city businessman, Paul James at the casino earlier this year.
Muammer Pirinçcioğlu,47, denied that the charge that he unlawfully assaulted James on May 24, 2014 at the Providence, East Bank-Demerara-based casino.
City Magistrate, Judy Latchman granted the accused GUY$20,000 bail and ordered him to return to appear before the Providence Magistrates’ Court on September 22.
Defence Lawyer, Omeyana Hamilton secured bail for Pirinçcioğlu after informing the court that he has a five-year contract to work in Guyana.
Hamilton said that Pirinçcioğlu never touched James. Instead, she alleged that the businessman was escorted out of the casino because he was behaving in a disorderly manner. Hamilton intends to ask that video recordings of the alleged incident be tendered as evidence.
Prosecutor, Attorney-at-law Ganesh Hira did not object to bail being granted but asked the court to order Pirinçcioğlu to lodge his passport. Hira Pirinçcioğlu was only now appearing in court because he was overseas.
Meanwhile, Princess Hotel and Casino issued a statement, refuting James’ allegations and maintaining the innocence of Pirinçcioğlu. Most of the statement cannot be reproduced because the case is before the court.
The entity noted that the court appearance by the accused was based on a private criminal charge that was filed by James. The hotel took objection to the way its Casino Manager was treated at the court. “Thereafter he was handcuffed and paraded like a common criminal prior to his bail being posted shortly thereafter,” said Princess Hotel and Casino.
“The Casino wishes to state that it is confident that the Manager would be vindicated at trial when the Court has the benefit of the litany of compelling evidence that Princess Casino Guyana has in its possession to prove its defence,” the hospitality and gaming entity added.
Princess Hotel and Casino further stated that it recognizes its responsibility to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for its customers as well as its employees and has the obligation to take any and all reasonable steps to ensure that this occurs at all times.
