• Schenectady City Council member John Mootooveren, right, and his attorney, Steven X. Kouray leave court after Mootooveren was arraigned on a harassment charge that accused him of throwing a drink at another man. Photo: Paul Nelson / Times Union
Photo: Paul Nelson / Times Union
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Schenectady City Council member John Mootooveren, right, and his attorney, Steven X. Kouray leave court after Mootooveren was arraigned on a harassment charge that accused him of throwing a drink at another man.

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Schenectady City Council member John Mootooveren, right, and his attorney, Steven X. Kouray leave court after Mootooveren was arraigned on a harassment charge that accused him of throwing a drink at another

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Photo: Paul Nelson / Times Union
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Schenectady City Council member John Mootooveren, third from left, and his attorney, Steven X. Kouray, at right, leave court after Mootooveren was arraigned on a harassment charge that accused him of throwing a drink at another man.

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Schenectady City Council member John Mootooveren, third from left, and his attorney, Steven X. Kouray, at right, leave court after Mootooveren was arraigned on a harassment charge that accused him of throwing a

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Photo: Paul Nelson / Times Union
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Schenectady Council candidate John Mootooveren
Schenectady Council candidate John Mootooveren
Photo: VINCENT A GIORDANO
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John Mootooveren smiles after taking oath for city council administered by Honorable Mark Blanchfield at Schenectady City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014 in Schenectady, N.Y. Mootooveren is the city's first Guyanese city council member. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) less
John Mootooveren smiles after taking oath for city council administered by Honorable Mark Blanchfield at Schenectady City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014 in Schenectady, N.Y. Mootooveren is the city's first ... more
Photo: Lori Van Buren
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SCHENECTADY - City Council member John Mootooveren was arraigned Thursday morning on a harassment charged tied to a local man's allegation that Mootooveren threw a drink at him.

The first-term Democrat appeared in City Court with his attorney Steven X. Kouray. He was told to reappear in court on April 5.

The alleged victim, Nandallal "Harry" Hariraj, says Moottoveren threw alcohol from a cup into this face at a bar in January, according to police and court officials.

Hariraj, 58, said he was taking cellphone pictures of his friend as the man was talking with Mootooveren at the Exit Bar & Lounge on Crane St. in Mont Pleasant.

He said Mootooveren hurled what Hariraj contends was alcohol from a cup that splashed in his eyes, momentarily blinding him. He said he needed painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infection.

Kouray told the Times Union earlier this month that the alleged victim, who owns a car repair shop in Schenectady, was upset because Mootooveren years ago didn't help him win a zoning variance he needed to expand the business.