And while Minister Perez won't be facing any drug charges, the UDP's Alberto August was charged with aggravated assault earlier this month. But he made the point that while that charge was levied on him for allegedly cursing at a public officer, Jiahui Chen, a storeowner, grabbed a public officer by the shirt and was only charged with common assault. Today ComPol conceded that it should have been aggravated assault, and he says they are working on upgrading the charge.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I saw Alberto August's post on social media and I don't normally agree with him but this is one time I have to agree with him. That Asian grocer should have been charged with aggravated assault. The law says if you assault any public officer in the execution of his duty, that officer from price control was performing his public duty and so the grocer will have to be charged with aggravated assault. I don't know how far that matter is but if he has not yet pled guilty to the common assault then we can proceed in amended the charge to aggravated assault because that should be the appropriate charge."
