Magistrate Rabindra Mahabir on Wednesday upheld a no-case submission made by attorney Vinay Punwa and dismissed a charge against Mabaruma Mayor Trevi Leung for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Leung, 34, of Barima Nobo, was before the Kaituma Magistrate’s Court on an allegation arising from a police stop-and-search exercise conducted on March 2, 2025.
During the exercise, police subjected Leung to a breathalyzer test which allegedly recorded 71 micrograms of alcohol. He was subsequently charged for exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit and was placed on bail.
However, when the matter proceeded to trial on Wednesday, Punwa challenged the reliability of the equipment used to conduct the test.
The lawyer told the court that the breathalyzer had been calibrated approximately one year before it was used to test Leung.
Punwa argued that the relevant case law and legislation require such equipment to be calibrated every six months, raising questions about the validity of the reading recorded on the day in question.
After hearing the defence’s arguments, Magistrate Mahabir upheld the no-case submission and dismissed the charge.
The ruling brings an end to the DUI allegation against Leung, who was therefore discharged of that matter.
Leung is still facing other cases before the courts, including allegations of assaulting a male resident and sexually assaulting a woman.
Those matters were initially heard in the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse, who presided over two hearings before recusing himself from the cases.
Punwa is also representing Leung in those matters.
