https://www.timesunion.com/7dayarchive/article/Schenectady-man-urges-authorities-to-reopen-12926652.php
Man urges authorities to reopen case against Schenectady lawmaker
Updated 8:11 pm, Friday, May 18, 2018
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.
lessSchenectady 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
... moreSchenectady 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.
lessSchenectady 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
... moreSCHENECTADY — The city businessman who accused Schenectady City Councilman John Mootooveren of tossing alcohol from a cup in his face wants the court case to be reopened and threatened to take legal action if that doesn't happen.
"Everything was done without my knowledge and I don't think it was done fairly, and I'm really upset because of that," Nandallal "Harry" Hariraj said Friday. "I want the case to be opened and I want to be there when a decision is made by a judge or jury or whoever."
Hariraj, who owns a mechanic shop in Mont Pleasant, said that he learned the case had been resolved after reading a newspaper article and never spoke with the prosecutor, Michael DeMatteo, who handled the case.
Earlier this month, the harassment charge against Mootooveren, 46, was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal meaning he must stay out of trouble within the next six months and the violation will be dismissed.
Attorney Steven X. Kouray, who represented Mootooveren, said, "in view of all the facts and the history of this case, (Hariraj) is anything but a victim."
Hariraj, 58, also complained that the court never addressed his medical bills from the incident in January that left him with blurred vision.
DeMatteo did not return a call Friday seeking comment.
On Friday, Ken Rulison, who works with crime victims for the Schenectady County district attorney's office, said he had met with Hariraj and his wife and had an in-depth discussion, including how Hariraj would like to see the case resolved.
Rulison said Hariraj subsequently sent him cell phone video of the incident that he forwarded to DeMatteo.
He said they had some follow-up conversations, via text, including one where Hariraj requested that City Court Judge Guido Loyola recuse himself from the case.
"I replied to that text message, saying, 'Unfortunately that's not something that we can do, we don't have the ability to choose what judge presides over a particular case.'"
On Friday, Hariraj said Loyola presided over a case involving one of Hariraj's tenants where there was a conflict of interest.
Hariraj, said he was taking cell phone pictures of his friend as the man was talking with Mootooveren at the Exit Bar & Lounge on Crane Street with his wife, Anita, during the early morning hours of January 15.
He said that's when Mootooveren hurled what Hariraj contends was alcohol from a cup that splashed in his eyes, momentarily blinding him.
Hariraj, who like Mootooveren is from Guyana, acknowledged the two have had personal "issues" and disagreements in the past.
