Armed ranks have been deployed at strategic points around the city as part of the anti-crime campaign. (Delano Williams photo)

Taxidriver Sahadeo Lall, called “Bolt”, outside the GPHC yesterday before he accompanied detectives to CID headquarters.

A 56-year-old woman shot in the left side of her neck during a robbery and car hijack outside her Georgetown home yesterday afternoon, was last night critical in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Ashwani Doodnauth, 56, a proprietor of Doodnauth Jewellery Stall and Store at Lot 173 Pike Street, Kitty, was in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery, relatives said.

Her son, Naresh Doodnauth, told the Guyana Chronicle his parents, Ashwani and Danieram Doodnauth, 50, were returning home after locking up their stall in the Stabroek Market when the bandits struck. He said that at about 15:30 h, his mother and father were about to get out of a taxi just outside their home when they were confronted by two gunmen who had suddenly appeared.

Naresh said the bandits demanded cash and jewellery but his parents do not carry money or jewels with them. They grabbed a black plastic bag with fruits from his mother who was in the front seat with the driver before shooting her at point blank range in the neck, he said. Naresh said they also hauled the driver, Sahadeo Lall, called “Bolt”, 48, of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, out of his motorcar.

The father, who was in shock at the GPHC awaiting word on the condition of his wife, said the bandits took away his licensed gun and pushed him out of the blue AT 192 car, licence plate PHH 2589. They also tossed his wife out of the vehicle before driving off with it.

Son of the wounded woman, Naresh Doodnauth, standing beside his father, Danieram Doodnauth in the lobby of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the GPHC.

The man produced $200 from his shirt pocket, all the money he had when the robbers attacked. Scores of family members, relatives and friends rushed to the hospital to comfort the elder Doodnauth and his son who were anxiously waiting in the lobby of the Accident and Emergency Room.

The traumatised taxi driver, who also rushed to the hospital, told the Guyana Chronicle he was given a $500 note for the drop from his regular customers and was handing them the $200 change when he heard a gunshot. “Then I realised that we were being robbed and by that time I was taken out of the car and dumped on the road when I saw my customer (Ashwani) lying in a pool of blood on the road,” he said.

The driver was, however, whisked away by detectives who invited him to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to give a statement.

Police recovered a 9mm spent shell at the scene and the hijacked motorcar was reportedly found abandoned about an hour after the robbery in Sophia, Greater Georgetown. (Michel Outridge/Guyana Cronicle/Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

A city jeweller was at press time battling for her life at the Georgetown Hospital after a bandit shot her in the neck outside her Kitty home yesterday afternoon before escaping with a bag containing her husband's firearm. The two bandits appeared to have been monitoring the couple for some time and had carefully planned their attack.

Following the shooting the men escaped in the taxi that the couple had been in and up to press time last night police were unable to track them down.

Injured is Ashimini Doodnauth, 55, of Lot 173 Pike Street, Kitty. Late yesterday afternoon she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Hospital in an unconscious condition and is on a life support machine. Up to press time last night police had not issued a statement on the shooting and repeated efforts to contact the force for a comment were unsuccessful.

Sources told Stabroek News yesterday that Ashimini and her husband Tanieram are the owners of Doodnauth jewellery store in Stabroek Market. The couple also operates a workshop at their home. The source said that the couple has been operating the establishment for many years now.

Reports reaching this newspaper are that just after 3 pm the couple closed their establishment in the Stabroek Market and left in a taxi for home. When the car stopped in front of the house and the couple was about to disembark, two armed men approached and demanded a bag that they had with them. During the robbery, Ashmini was shot in the neck. The gunmen then ordered the driver, out of the car and drove off. A passing vehicle stopped and rushed the injured woman to the hospital.

At the hospital the injured woman's husband and two daughters were sitting on a bench consoling each other. One of the daughters told this newspaper that the doctors aren't allowing them to see her and all they want to hear is that she will be okay. The woman husband was sitting with a blank look on his face. Both of his daughters were in tears.

Stabroek News was reliably informed that the woman was bleeding profusely when she arrived at the hospital. The source said that the woman whose condition is listed as critical was unconscious and doctors would have to determine where exactly the bullet was lodged.

Sahadeo Lall, the taxi driver, told this newspaper that he has been transporting the couple for a number of years now. Recounting how the attack unfolded, Lall said that he stopped in front of the couple's home. "They bin jumpin out when two men with cap on and two guns each in dey hand com up and halla whey de money dey".

He stated that he didn't know if the bag was handed over but all he heard was one gunshot. According to Lall, he was ordered out of his dark blue AT192 carina, PJJ 2589 and the men drove off in it. "This whole thing happen so quick. Ay see de woman (Ashimini) lying on de road with she eye rolling up".

At Ashmini's home last evening her son Haresh told Stabroek News that in 1994, the jewellery store in Stabroek Market was robbed of a quantity of jewellery. He stated that the business has been in existence for over 15 years.

He stated that it was his mother's shopping bag that was stolen and it had his father's firearm, some vegetables and food bowls. (Zoisa Fraser/Stabroek News)

Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan yesterday remanded to prison eight men who pleaded not guilty after they were charged separately with having cannabis for the purpose of trafficking and for unlawful possession of guns and ammunition.

James Mc Pherson, 27, of 3237 South Ruimveldt was charged jointly with his brother Fidel Mc Pherson with allegedly having, on Monday last, at 1 Mile Mahdia, Potaro one .36 Taurus revolver and one .32 semi automatic pistol, one .38 round of special ammunition and ten .32 rounds of special ammunition in their possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

James was also charged with allegedly having, on Tuesday, 600 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. His brother did not appear in court. James' attorney, Lance Ferreira, told the Georgetown Magistrate's Court that his client lives four doors away from his brother. He said on the night in question the police went to James' door and took him to his brother's home where they kicked down the door and found the items.

He said his client was taken into custody and told if he did not reveal his brother's location he was 'going down'. Ferreira said he was surprised that they charged his client jointly with his brother as James was not his brother's keeper; neither does he live with him.

Police Prosecutor Maxine Graham told the court that James was arrested because he made a threat with a gun. She also said James was controlling both locations and he opened the door to let the police in. The man was ordered to appear at the Mahdia Magistrate's Court on January 18.

According to court reports Shaun Walton, 33, of 8656 North Ruimveldt was charged with allegedly having, on Saturday, one 9 mm pistol and 11 rounds of 9 mm ammunition without lawful authority. His attorney Glen Hanoman told the court, in his bail application, that Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys had granted bail to a man with a greater calibre of weapon than his client's.

He said he didn't want people to say that bail is only for the rich while his poor client is remanded. Hanoman said there must be consistency in the law, adding that Walton owns a stand in the Vendor's Arcade and has ten children.

In her submissions Graham asked that bail be refused as Walton's premises were searched after he made a threat against the life of another man. She said the gun was found in Walton's crotch. In response, Hanoman admitted that Walton was involved in an incident with a person who attempted to break down his stall however; he said no gun was found on his client. Walton was ordered to appear at Court Two on Tuesday.

In the court's cases against Ignatius Allicock and Lindie Archer the men were charged with being in possession of firearms without lawful authority. Allicock, 50, of Campbell Town, Mahdia allegedly had in his possession one 20-gauge shotgun. He was ordered to appear at the Mahdia Magistrate's Court on January 18. Archer, 29, of 459 Canvas City, Wismar, Linden allegedly had in his possession one .32 Rossi revolver. He was ordered to appear at the Christianburg Magistrate's Court on December 12.

Meanwhile, Deon Anthony, Kert Duncan and John Antoo appeared before the court to answer to charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking. The men were apprehended when police conducted raids in several areas. Anthony, of 7 Glasgow, East Bank Berbice, was on Wednesday, at Washer Pond Road, McKenzie, stopped at a road block and allegedly found with 725 grammes of cannabis in his possession.

Duncan, 34, of Wisroc allegedly had 125 grammes of cannabis in his possession and also cultivated a cannabis plant. He was seen picking the leaves. Duncan and Anthony were ordered to appear at the Christianburg Magistrate's Court on December 6. Antoo, 30, of 64 Norton Street, Lodge on Thursday, at Lethem, allegedly had in his possession 52 kilogrammes of cannabis. Antoo was ordered to appear at the Lethem Magistrate's Court on December 6. (Stabroek News)

Lloyd Roberts

Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan granted $35,000 bail each to Roger Khan's three bodyguards, who spent five months in a Suriname prison and two days in police custody here, when they appeared before him at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Sean Belfield, 27, of 23 Queen Street, Kitty, Paul Rodrigues, 31, of 14 B Shell Road, Kitty and Lloyd Roberts, 25, of 3536 North Ruimveldt all appeared calm and collected when the charge of illegal departure was read to them.

The men are accused of, between June 15 and 16 at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, departing by sea from a port not authorized for such departures.

The men's attorney, Glen Hanoman, told the court that his clients were released from police custody on Friday. Normally, he said, a person charged with that offence would be fined; however, the particulars of the offence were not clear so his clients pleaded not guilty. He requested that his clients be given another date for report in Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Maxine Graham said that her instructions were to transfer the case to the Springlands Magistrate's Court. She added that the particulars of the case are clear and that Hanoman could use the same course he wanted at the Georgetown Court at Springlands. In response, Hanoman said he was hoping to avoid the trouble of going to Springlands.

The three men were released from the Brickdam Police Station on Friday after Hanoman filed habeas corpus proceedings in the High Court. They returned to Guyana on Wednesday after they were released from Suriname jails the day before. On June 15, the men, Khan and five Surinamese were arrested in a huge drug bust, in Paramaribo, which netted 213 kilos of cocaine.

They were initially charged with cocaine trafficking and possession and also with being part of a criminal gang. However, Suriname authorities dropped the charges against Khan, deported him, and detained the three men, extending their jail time on several occasions. The charges against them were dropped on Tuesday and their deportation ordered. The men were ordered to return to court on Friday. (Stabroek News)

Crime Stoppers nearer

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee greeting Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Crime Stoppers Board, Mr. Zamanath ‘Billy’ Ali, left, before the start of their meeting yesterday. Looking on is Police Commissioner Henry Greene.

“I think we have set ourselves certain goals and certain targets which by mid-2007 will see us in the mainstream of the Crime Stoppers programme, both at the regional and international levels,” Rohee told reporters immediately after the 90-minute meeting yesterday.

“In my own assessment of the situation…it is clear that we have the conditions necessary for the establishment of a Crime Stoppers programme in this country and the conversation with Mr. Ali has helped us to get a better sense of the steps that we need to take to advance the process,” he said.

Ali, who is also Trinidad’s representative on the Regional Crime Stoppers Board, arrived in Guyana yesterday morning specifically for the meeting with Rohee and in an effort to help advance the preparatory works before Guyana can establish the programme here.

Ali, who departed Guyana last evening, was invited here to brief Rohee and a local team comprising Police Commissioner Henry Greene and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ms. Angela Johnson on the process and the steps required in the immediate future for the establishment of a local Crime Stoppers organisation in Guyana.

Greene, who is very supportive of the efforts to establish the Crime Stoppers scheme in Guyana, and Johnson were both present during the meeting between Rohee and Ali at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Georgetown.

Greene believes the Crime Stoppers programme will be good for Guyana and is a “step in the right direction”. “I think it is a move in the right direction since partnership between the police and public, including the business community is very, very important,” he declared.

Greene also called on members of the public to support the Police Force “a lot more than they are doing at the moment”, and assured that information and tips received from the public will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

The Police Commissioner also pledged the support of the Guyana Police Force for the programme and said the Force will work with the Board of Directors of the Crime Stoppers programme when it is established to ensure that the programme is a success in Guyana.

Noting that Guyana has in the past met representatives of Crime Stoppers International on establishing a programme here, Rohee said yesterday’s meeting with Ali was aimed at “taking the process a step further” and assured that this was achieved.

TREMENDOUS GOODWILL

The Home Affairs Minister is also very optimistic that the programme, when established in Guyana, will receive good support from the public, including the private sector.

“At the community level, I think there is a tremendous amount of goodwill (and) at the level of the private sector, which I think will be extremely critical in supporting the Crime Stoppers programme, I believe and I am convinced that there is a tremendous amount of goodwill there as well…,” Rohee said.

He also welcomed the support from the Guyana Police Force pledged by Commissioner Greene, noting “we have the full support of the police which is a critical factor in the whole process”. Rohee said he will shortly be taking certain steps to approach the private sector to solicit their support for the programme.

“I have reason to believe that the representatives of the private sector are not unaware of the significance of the Crime Stoppers programme and therefore that puts the programme in good stead in the establishment of such a programme here in Guyana.”

According to him, Guyana would be very happy to be a part of the Crime Stoppers programme, joining with the other countries in the Caribbean where the scheme has already been established. “Having regard for the successes of Crime Stoppers International, we would have our work to do to ensure that the community and the private sector buy into this programme,” Rohee posited.

Ali said that by the end of their meeting yesterday, agreements were reached on various issues, specifically the things to be done before the programme is launched.

“The ministry has some things that they have to do. I have some information that I need to prepare and get back to the ministry very swiftly so that we can keep within a timeframe which the minister is going to decide on and make public soon,” Ali told reporters.

“My purpose here this morning has been filled; we had a very fruitful meeting and I think a Crime Stoppers programme will be established here in Guyana very shortly. I think it is something that is necessary and something that will help local enforcement as it has helped law enforcement around the world,” he said.

“I am very honoured to be here to help and be a part of this process and give any support the Ministry of Home Affairs would require – both from a regional perspective and from an international perspective,” Ali said.

Crime Stoppers, he said, should be seen as a relationship or a marriage between law enforcement, the community and the media.

“It shows that the information lies within the community. The public, the people out there know who the criminals are and for various reasons – mostly that they wanted anonymity and from fear of appraisal, they don’t call the police force directly. So Crime Stoppers is a simple mechanism - it is a number that you can call and you can be confident that the call is anonymous,” Ali explained.

REWARDS ARE GIVEN

He said tips taken are passed on to law enforcement and investigated and if an arrest and conviction arises out of that information, rewards are given.

The Crime Stoppers programme started in 1976 following the brutal murder of a pump attendant in New Mexico. Following this incident, a re-enactment of the crime scene was televised and based on information received an arrest was made in 24 hours.

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community programme designed to combat the heightened levels of fear resulting from the increase in certain types of crime.

It is a partnership amongst the community, the police and the media and allows the public to assist in the fight against crime without fear of being identified or exposed as it guarantees anonymity and confidentiality and pays rewards to callers for information which proves useful.

The Crime Stoppers programme entails setting up a hotline or hotlines (telephone numbers) where members of the public are encouraged to call in and give anonymous information about crime. This information is then allocated or referred to the relevant law enforcement agency to respond to it and in some cases rewards are given.

Crime Stoppers is not intended to replace the Police Emergency Number. In many countries the programme hopes that rather than receiving calls of an offence taking place, example a male person stealing tyres from a vehicle, it would receive a call from a person who has knowledge of a warehouse full of stolen tyres.

This information often comes from the fringe elements of criminal society and this is why it is necessary to have a reward fund as an incentive for these people to phone.

Through the Crime Stoppers programme the general community becomes the eyes and ears of the police force and this has resulted in a number of wanted persons being apprehended, including murderers, rapists and criminals, in other countries. For those wondering how it is possible to pay a reward to an anonymous person, the method used in a number of countries is that all callers are given code numbers when they contact Crime Stoppers.

If the caller wishes to claim a reward, they merely have to nominate a branch of a particular bank and the caller goes to that bank and asks for the manager and provides their code number and the amount of the reward.

Nothing is signed and the caller retains their anonymity. Those two pieces of information are all the manager needs to pay the caller the reward in cash. Other countries employ various other methods and mechanisms to give out the rewards while protecting the person giving the information.

Crime Stoppers programmes have been established in several countries around the world, including the Caribbean countries of Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. (Mark Ramotar/Guyana Cronicle)

Rambarran Singh, also known as Jaio, was discovered dead in the upper flat of his business place shortly after bandits had attacked him and his son and escaped with an undisclosed sum of money, a cell phone and his double-barreled shotgun.

Police and relatives refuted reports in yesterday’s Kaieteur News that the businessman was shot dead. His son, Rajendra Singh, said he heard no shot during the attack and there was no wound on his father’s body.

Police said that contrary to the report in the Kaieteur News, the body bore no marks of violence. “Information has been received from relatives that Rambarran Singh suffered from a heart condition. The body is at the Lyken Parlour awaiting a post mortem examination”, Police said.

Rajendra Singh, who was treated at a city hospital for body and head injuries and discharged, said yesterday that he and his father were about to close off business for the day at around 21:15 h when the bandits came into the shop posing as customers.

Singh said there were four persons involved in the attack, three males and one female.

One of the men was an Amerindian and the other two Afro-Guyanese, he said. The female was Afro-Guyanese.

The four ordered beers and cigarettes and Singh said he had turned around to serve them when he felt a severe blow at the back of his head and realised that the business place was under attack.

The bandit who had struck him, hit him several times more on his head and shoulders, and then showed him a handgun and demanded that he hand over all the money in the cash drawer.

Sandra Persaud, a niece of the dead businessman, holds a blood-stained shirt which the bandits used to tie up Rajendra Singh.

Singh said that as he was complying, he saw his father being forcibly taken up to the upper flat by another bandit.

The younger Singh said he received several more blows to his head and upper body from the armed bandit while handing over the cash from the day’s sales.

He was, however, all the while hearing sounds indicating a violent struggle going on in the upper flat between his father and the bandit who had taken him upstairs. Then the sounds stopped, he related.

He said the bandits collected all the money he had and demanded the keys to the safe which he handed over. He said they then bound his arms together using his shirt. They ransacked the safe and then shortly after they and the female ran out of the building on to the public road.

While on the public road they discharged a round apparently from his father’s shotgun, he said. After they had run off into the darkness, the younger Singh said, he managed to free himself and rushed to the door of the shop and began screaming for help.

He then rushed up stairs to check on his father and saw the older Singh lying unconscious. The 69-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. A grieving Singh said he and his father were the only two surviving members of the family which had comprised his mother and a sister up to 15 years ago.

His mother died in 1988 and his sole sister in 1991 and he and his father had been living alone in the home/business place since then. Yesterday he was still traumatised and could not say how much money the bandits had gotten away with. (Clifford Stanley/Guyana Cronicle)

Roger Khan’s ‘bodyguards’ released

Paul Rodrigues, left, and Sean Belfield leaving the Brickdam Police Station last evening.

Justice B.S. Roy yesterday ordered the Guyana Police to immediately release the just deported three ex-policemen, described as bodyguards of accused drug trafficker Roger Khan, with whom they were arrested in Suriname.

The judge acted on the application for a writ of habeas corpus, filed by attorney-at-law Mr Glenn Hanoman, on behalf of Sean Belfield, Lloyd Roberts and Paul Rodrigues.

Justice Roy, however, instructed that the released men report to the Police at Eve Leary, Georgetown, on Monday and he adjourned further hearing of the matter. The trio and Gerald Pereira had gone into hiding since wanted bulletins were issued for them in the hunt for the AK-47 rifles and pistols stolen from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) earlier this year.

But Pereira, who was in court yesterday, subsequently surrendered to the Police after Khan, Belfield, Roberts and Rodrigues were nabbed in Suriname. Justice Roy yesterday ruled that the Police had not put forward adequate reasons for continuing to detain the trio, despite arguments by other attorney-at-law Mr Naresh Harnanan, from the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Hanoman said the three, who were in Suriname jails for more than five months, were held on their return here Wednesday and told they would be charged, under the Immigration Act, for leaving the country illegally. They were also questioned. The three were released from the Brickdam lock ups around 18:45 h last evening. (Guyana Cronicle)

The man, of Lot 125 Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, is alleged to have killed the 42-year-old Seventh Day Adventist member between November 11 and 14 last. Her bloated and partly decomposed remains were found in a drain aback of her Lot ‘A’ 64 East La Penitence Squatting Area house.

Neighbours and one of her daughters discovered the dead, scantily clad body of Osbourne from which an arm was completely severed. Also appearing in the same court was Tyron Kennedy, who faced an indictable charge of receiving stolen property, suspected to belong to the victim.

Police said Kennedy, 42, from the East La Penitence Squatting Area, as well, had a cooking gas cylinder, five ware plates, seven teacups, a spoon and two spatulas, all valued $15, 000, knowing they were stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Both Wharton and Kennedy were remanded to prison until December 20 and their cases were transferred to another court. (Guyana Cronicle)

Boy, 14, arraigned for murder trial

A fourteen-year-old boy was yesterday arraigned on a murder indictment at the Berbice Assizes. But Justice Claudette LaBennett postponed the start of the case after the parents of the accused sought an adjournment to retain legal counsel.

The postponement was granted after the judge was informed that part payment had been made to a named lawyer who did not appear. However, it is expected that the Defence Counsel will make his appearance by today when a jury is to be sworn.

The minor is indicted for unlawfully killing 17-year-old Farad Ally nicknamed ‘Bhojo’ on October 29, 2005, at Blairmont, West Bank Berbice. State Counsel Faith McGusty is prosecuting. (Guyana Cronicle)

Roger Khan scores in TT court

Controversial Guyanese businessman Shaheed `Roger’ Khan, also known as `Short Man’, scored in the judicial system in Trinidad yesterday, when Justice Best granted him leave to file judicial review proceedings, his lawyer said.

This will allow him to challenge and impugn the decisions of Stephen Sookram, Immigration Officer, and David West, an attorney-at-law and senior officer of the Central Authority in the Attorney General’s office in the twin-island republic. The development was reported in a press release issued by Khan’s Trinidadian defence lawyer, Odai Ramischand.

Khan, on remand in a downtown Brooklyn jail facing a charge of `conspiring to export cocaine’, has alleged that Sookram and West, on June 29, 2006, made the decision at the Piarco International Airport to accede to the request of Gary Tuggle, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent of the U.S., for the extradition/rendition/kidnapping/involuntary surrender of him to the U.S.

According to the release, it was revealed in evidence during the course of the hearing in Trinidad yesterday that the Government of Suriname had issued a passport for Khan to travel to Guyana, and an airline ticket for his travel to Guyana was given to the Trinidadian authorities.

But despite this and the deportation order issued by Suriname for Khan to be returned to Guyana in transit via the Piarco International Airport, he was handed over to U.S. officials who flew him to New York. It was also revealed in evidence that there were direct flights from Suriname to Guyana but Khan was sent to the Piarco International Airport.

Ramischand said he told the judge he will submit to the court and seek an order of the court commanding Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General John Jeremie to request of his counterpart in the U.S. to return Khan to Trinidad under the Mutual Assistance Treaty with the U.S. He said Justice Best, however, indicated that if he is satisfied with the evidence and the law at the hearing of the judicial review, he will consider making such an order.

The lawyer also insisted that Justice Best had the power and jurisdiction to do so and the judge stated that he will hear these submissions at a substantive date, the release added.

Meanwhile, Khan’s three alleged bodyguards, Sean Belfield, Lloyd Roberts and Paul Rodrigues, who were taken into custody by local police Wednesday after they were deported from Suriname, are likely to appear in court today to answer charges against them. They were deported from Suriname after no charges were laid against them and are being grilled here by the local sleuths.

Khan, 36, along with Rodrigues, Belfield, Roberts and some Surinamese nationals were nabbed in Suriname in what police in that country said was a huge drug bust that netted 213 kilos of cocaine on June 15 in Paramaribo.

Khan, who was expelled from the country on June 29, after the authorities there said they had no charges against him, while the others remained incarcerated in separate jails, was nabbed by DEA agents in Trinidad as he deplaned from the Suriname Airways flight, placed on a chartered jet and whisked away to the U.S. (Guyana Cronicle)

Roger Khan `bodyguards’ in custody

After serving just over five months under harsh conditions in separate jails in neighbouring Suriname, without being charged, three ex-policemen were deported here yesterday and were in Police custody in Georgetown last night.

Sean Belfield, Lloyd Roberts and Paul Rodrigues, alleged bodyguards of controversial businessman Roger `Short Man’ Khan, were brought across the border Corentyne River and whisked overland under heavy guard to Police headquarters.

The men, unlike Khan who was also deported without charge from Suriname and is now in jail in the United States, arrived at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, aboard the MV `Canawaima’ on its 10:40 h scheduled trip from the South Drain port in Suriname, and were immediately taken into custody by Guyana Police on an outstanding wanted bulletin.

Sources told the Guyana Chronicle that in addition to possible prosecution for leaving Guyana illegally, they would be grilled on issues in relation to the existing wanted bulletin, and it is unlikely law enforcement officials would release them and request that they report for questioning for fear that they may take flight again.

The three, along with Khan and Gerald Pereira, went into hiding shortly after a wanted bulletin for their questioning was posted here. Pereira subsequently surrendered to the Police after news of the arrest of Khan, Belfield, Roberts and Rodrigues in Suriname surfaced.

On arrival at Molesen Creek, Rodrigues, Belfield and Roberts were placed in a green camouflage pick-up and escorted under tight security by ranks of the Tactical Services Unit to New Amsterdam and then to the city .

Reports from Suriname said the authorities there, as had happened with Khan, did not find any legal case against the three, opted to have them deported and informed Police authorities here of the developments.

In Suriname, the three went through a pre-trial, similar to that of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) here, involving the presentation of testimonies being conducted by a Judge of Instruction, their lawyer Surinamese Irwnis Khanai, had told the Guyana Chronicle.

He had said that the Judge of Instruction had a time limit of 120 days to “finish his instructions” -- to determine whether a case had been made out for them to be charged. Khan, 36, along with Rodrigues, Belfield, Roberts and some Surinamese nationals were nabbed in Suriname in what police in that country said was a huge drug bust that netted 213 kilos of cocaine on June 15 in Paramaribo.

Khan, who was expelled from the country on June 29, after the authorities there said they had no charges against him, while the others remained incarcerated in separate jails, was nabbed by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents in Trinidad as he deplaned from the Suriname Airways flight, placed on a chartered jet and whisked away to the United States.

This was despite the public linking of Khan by Suriname Minister of Justice, Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, to plots to assassinate key government and judicial officials in that country.

Santokhi had also deemed him a threat to national and international security and had told reporters that Khan, for about two years before, was being investigated for cocaine trafficking, firearm possession and being part of a criminal gang.

Less than 24 hours after arriving in the U.S., Khan was arraigned at the Brooklyn Federal Court in New York before Judge Roanne Mann on a charge of “conspiring to import cocaine”. Mann subsequently transferred the case before Justice Dora Lizzette Irririzary, presiding at the U.S. Eastern District Court on Tillary Street in downtown Brooklyn.

On his second court appearance which lasted a mere 10 minutes, Justice Irririzary had remarked that Khan’s matter is complex. He is due to make another court appearance on December 6, on the expiration of another 45 day adjournment granted at the request of the prosecution. (Guyana Cronicle)

Thousands at funeral for six crash victims

Thousands yesterday attended the funeral services for the six persons who died in the road accident at Bath Settlement Village, West Coast Berbice last Wednesday.

The crowd comprised hundreds of school children, many residents from neighbouring villages and other villages along the West Coast Berbice, school teachers, nurses and other professional, colleagues of the deceased adults and senior officials in the religious and political fields, and local and central Government officers, among others.

The government was represented by Minister of Human Services, Ms. Priya Manickchand. Also in attendance was Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin and his fellow People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Parliamentarian, Ms. Amna Ally, while Local Government was represented by Regional Chairman of Region Five (Mahaica/Berebice), Mr. Harrinarine Baldeo and his deputy, Mr. K.P. Deokarran.

Others there included Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. James Rose, acting Chief Education Officer, Ms. Genevieve Whyte-Nedd, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences School of Medicine, Dr. Emanuel E. Cummings and senior Officers of the Regional Education Department of Region Five.

For nearly three hours in the densely packed square of the compound of the Number 8 Village primary school, many speakers paid tribute to the deceased four children and two adults, in words and in song, and offered sympathy to their relatives during a programme punctuated by loud wails and by fainting spells by female members of the bereaved family.

The programme ended with the six, victims of the most horrific accident in West Berbice in recent memory, being laid to rest at the cemetery aback Number 9 Village, West Coast Berbice, at around 18:00 h.

Shirma Vyphuis-Bobb, 43, her four children Trevaughn Bobb, 14, Travis Bobb, 11, Trenton Bobb, 10, and Briana Bobb, 5, and her first cousin Debbie Edwards, 41, died when the car they were travelling in collided with a RAV 4 Sports Utility Vehicle around 09:15 h last Wednesday.

Human Services Minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand among those at the funeral services yesterday.

The six, all hailing from Number 8 and Number 9 villages, were en route to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, from where Shirma and two of the children who died were scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom

The accident reportedly occurred when the car travelling west along the Berbice Highway and on the southern side of the road at Bath Settlement, swerved into the path of the RAV 4 approaching in the opposite direction.

Shirma, Trevaughn, Briana and her cousin Debbie died on the spot. Travis was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and Trenton died late Wednesday afternoon after undergoing emergency surgery at the hospital.

The driver of the motor car escaped with minor injuries while the driver of the RAV 4 who complained of pains was able to take his own discharge from the Fort Wellington Hospital to seek medical attention elsewhere. (Clifford Stanley/Guyana Cronicle)

After spending months in Suriname jails on charges of narco-trafficking and being part of a criminal gang, the bodyguards of indicted, drug accused Roger Khan were released from jail yesterday but are still being detained pending their deportation. They could be back here in another two days.

All of the charges have been dropped and the trio - ex-policemen, Sean Belfield, Lloyd Roberts and Paul Rodrigues - could be deported by Saturday. They were arrested along with Khan and five Surinamese nationals during a massive drug bust in Paramaribo in June this year. Khan's charges were dropped shortly after his arrest and he was subsequently deported and later arrested by US officials in Trinidad.

Stabroek News was told that the five Surinamese who were arrested in the same bust could face possible charges for narcotics possession and trafficking and also being part of a criminal gang. While in the Suriname jail the trio had complained about mistreatment and their lawyers were initially prohibited from seeing them. The dropping of charges is another twist in this bizarre matter after Surinamese authorities had indicated that there was a strong case against Khan and the three guards.

It was later alleged that Suriname had struck a deal with the US for the handing over of Khan and that the guards would only be kept for the purpose of trying to build a case against Khan in the US. Roberts, Belfield and Rodrigues were all members of the Guyana Police Force until they were dismissed for various reasons.

On two separate occasions following their dismissal Belfield and Rodrigues were arrested during arms finds in Guyana. Belfield was with Khan and Haroon Yahya when the army intercepted a pick-up at Good Hope and seized a quantity of high-powered weapons, ammunition and telecommunications equipment in 2002. Then in 2004 Rodrigues was nabbed with others in an arms find at Bel Air. A number of high-powered weapons and other items were found in that operation.

The men's arrest in Suriname had created a stir back home as it occurred while Khan, Rodrigues, Gerald Pereira and Ricardo Rodrigues were fleeing from local police in the middle of massive cordon and search exercises in the wake of the theft of the army's AK-47 rifles and the release of taped conversations purportedly between former commissioner of police, Winston Felix and other individuals.

Authorities in Suriname had extended the trio's jail time on several occasions, the most recent being earlier this month. It was reported then that authorities would expand a judicial investigation into the allegations against the three bodyguards.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday a reliable source confirmed that Belfield, Rodrigues and Roberts were taken before judicial authorities yesterday. The source said they were told that they were being released but because they were in the country illegally they would be kept in detention pending deportation.

Stabroek News was told that the necessary paperwork was being done to facilitate the men's return to Guyana. Sources told Stabroek News that they could be deported by Saturday.

Contacted on the matter, attorney-at-law, Glenn Hanoman confirmed that his clients had been released and all the charges against them had been dropped. Hanoman said as far as he knew the men having been released by the authorities were taken back to their jail cells pending deportation. Suriname police were holding the three men at different facilities.

Suriname police had arrested the Guyanese and five Surinamese in the drug bust which netted some 213 kilos of cocaine on June 15. Prosecutor General Subhas Punwasi was quoted recently in Suriname newspaper de Ware Tijd as saying: "There are no grounds for releasing these suspects, the investigation will continue and they will appear before the judge, it's that simple."

He added that it is a 'big case', which must be uncovered. "So it might take a while before the suspects are brought to court." Investigators, while holding the Guyanese trio, were trying to uncover who else was involved.

Stabroek News was told that one of the reasons for Khan's bodyguards' long detention in Suriname was to facilitate further investigation of the businessman, who is currently before a New York court charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into that country between January 2001 and March 2006.

Relatives of the three Guyanese men had taken to the streets protesting their continued detention even after charges against Khan had been dropped.

Suriname police had initially charged Khan with being part of a criminal gang, trafficking in narcotics and possession of firearms. Khan was released from a Suriname jail, taken to Trinidad and Tobago where he was controversially arrested by agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and then escorted to New York. (Stabroek News)

Third man charged with murder of Corentyne butcher

A third man implicated in the murder of a Corentyne butcher, late last month, appeared before Principal Magistrate Krishendat Persaud yesterday, charged with the capital offence, too. An arrest warrant had previously been issued for the accused, Compton Green, alias ‘Red Eye’, who made his appearance in New Amsterdam Court, also in Berbice.

The indictable charge joins Green with Samuel Fabel also known as John Simpson, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam and Samuel Fraser called ‘Charlie’, of Liverpool, Corentyne. Fabel and Fraser were remanded to prison until November 23 by Magistrate Geeta Chandan before whom they were at Whim Court, Corentyne, last October 26.

All three prisoners are now on remand, having allegedly murdered Gangaram Busjit on October 21. The 26-year-old butcher had gone to an outhouse in the yard where he lived when he was shot and died before receiving medical attention. (Guyana Cronicle)

A Brazilian miner who was arrested in Guyana with large amounts of explosives which he had without permit was yesterday fined $3,000 or two months in prison by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.

Huberto Nascimento, 35, of Boa Vista, Brazil pleaded guilty to two charges at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court. On November 14 at Lethem, Central Rupununi he imported from Brazil 389 sticks of explosives, 491 detonators, 2 rows of safety fuse and 3 rows of detonator cord without lawful authority. He also was charged for having in his possession the same amount of items.

Appearing on Nascimento's behalf was attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes who told the court that his client is a gold miner from Brazil who came across the border to conduct hard rock mining and needed the explosives. He stated that his client who was headed to the Pomeroon was unaware that he had to declare the items.

He stated that Nascimento told the officials who stopped him at the border what he was bringing the items for and he cooperated with the police. The attorney said that his client's entry into the country was perfectly legal and there was no criminal intent on his behalf. He stated that when Nascimento returns to Brazil he will take the appropriate steps so that the next time he comes to Guyana he would not have to suffer this embarrassment.

The prosecutor did not disagree with what Hughes told the court. The magistrate stated that he accepted what the lawyer had told him and advised Nascimento to obtain a permit the next time. The magistrate then handed down the fines of $1,500 on each charge. (Stabroek News)

Man claims he’s still a cop

A man charged with impersonating a Police officer after he was found with a pair of handcuffs and other items, yesterday claimed he was still a serving member of the Guyana Police Force, as he was never served with a letter of dismissal.

Appearing before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan was Sherwin Aaron, accused of demanding with menace, impersonating a Police officer, and unlawful possession of the handcuffs and other articles used by cops. Police said Aaron was on Thursday found with the handcuffs, a Police regulation belt and a pair of pants, and could not give a satisfactory account of how he had obtained them.

Aaron was also accused of wearing these items the same day when he was not authorised to do so or was not a member of the Guyana Police Force. But the man claimed he had been employed by the Guyana Police Force since 1994 and said that in his view, he is still a serving member of the Force as he was never issued a dismissal latter.

Magistrate Sullivan, however, fined Aaron $7,500 for the offences, with an alternative of two months imprisonment. He is also charged with two indictable matters to which he was not required to plead.

Police allege that during March this year, with menace, he demanded the sum of $4,000 and $17,000 from Raghunauth Singh, with intent to steal. He was refused bail on these two indictable matters and is to return to court on December 8. (Guyana Cronicle)

The police have recorded 136 cases of murder so far this year with some 43 of these being execution-style killings and 47 domestic-related. Of the number of murders, 70 were committed in 'A' Division, 15 in 'B', 20 in 'C', 11 in 'D', 13 in the interior locations and seven in Essequibo.

Crime Chief Heeralall Makhanlall last Friday revealed these crime statistics to a gathering of private sector representatives at Eve Leary. Makhanlall said that execution-style killings accounted for 58% of the total number of murders.

He said too that for the current year the most prevalent crime is armed robbery, involving the use of firearms. However, other crimes such as rape and even murders were committed during the course of these robberies.

According to the Crime Chief, perpetrators are attracted to those perceived to be of some good economic standing, particularly, the armed robberies executed on victims at premises and homes. In terms of robberies where firearms are being used there was an increase of 44% in July this year, however, this was reduced to 37% by the end of August and to a further 18% by November 6, Makhanlall said.

He disclosed that between January 1 and November 6 this year there were 990 reports of robbery under arms. Of these, on 808 occasions firearms were used, as against 836 reports for the same period in 2005 when firearms were used on 649 occasions. Makhanall also revealed that for the year so far the country has received 234 deportees, with 152 coming from the USA and 24 from French Guiana.

Police have charged over the years that the large influx of deportees was fuelling the crime situation since a number of the deportees were usually behind some of the killings and robberies. There were also 97 cases of rape for the year so far compared to 130 for the same period last year.

Makhanlall said that overall, the Force's efforts have been spent on reducing the number of cases of robbery under arms (firearms used) committed in all the divisions. He said recently patrols have been doubled on a daily basis both by day and night.

He also said that roadblocks, raids and cordon and search exercises conducted have increased and the continued support of the Army in joint exercises is another method used to deter those criminals who are bent on committing robberies.

Additionally, Makhanlall said that trafficking in persons became prevalent in 2004 and was detected first in Berbice, Essequibo and East Coast Demerara. He noted that young females were taken to the interior and Suriname where they were promised work as waitresses, bartenders and domestics. However, on arrival they were forced into prostitution. For this year, nine cases of trafficking in persons were investigated and persons charged.

In the area of identifying suspects Makhanlall said this has met with some difficulty, due to fear by witnesses of the suspects and concerns for their own safety. He said that after suspects were arrested, several persons refused to attend identification parades and some of those who attended later said that they had seen the suspects but were afraid to identify them.

Further, Makhanlall said that during this year members of the public came out in support of the Police Force. This, according to him, is a positive sign that the public is regaining confidence and trust in the force.

He noted that public support has led to the cornering and subsequent death of wanted man Troy Dick. Dick, Dale Moore, Andrew Douglas, Mark Fraser and Shawn Browne made a bloody escape from the Camp Street jail on February 23, 2002. Their escape ushered in an unprecedented wave of terror, which resulted in the deaths of over two dozen policemen and scores of citizens.

Dick had managed to elude the police since 2002, until he was shot dead along with another accomplice in September following a robbery on Regent Street. He was the last escapee alive until then as all the others met their deaths in violent confrontations with the police.

Moreover, Makhanlall said, public information also led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles at Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice recently. Two of the rifles were part of the 30 that were stolen from the Guyana Defence Force storage bond at Camp Ayanganna in February this year.

Makhanlall said that public support assisted them in tracking down the bandits who robbed the two commercial banks in Berbice back in August. Following the robbery, the joint services killed eight of the bandits who were said to be criminals connected to the Buxton/Agricola gang. The lawmen also recovered eight of the stolen AK-47 rifles.

The public also helped in giving information which led to the arrest of several persons who were charged for serious crimes, some of which are now engaging the attention of the Court.

Several stolen articles were recovered as well.

Makhanlall also noted the assistance of the public in preventing bandits from continuing their attacks on residents of Canal Number Two Polder recently. A large band of criminals had attacked two households in the community and shot several persons, one of whom died during the robbery. One of the bandits was later found dead in a trench at the back of the village. He was found with one of the army's stolen AK-47 rifles strapped to his body. Police are yet to identify the bandit.

Fusion of gangs

Makhanlall said there is evidence that there is a fusion of the Buxton and Agricola gangs, while those gangs that surfaced in 2005 in Sophia, and Kaneville areas are dormant at the moment.

Through intelligence, several gang members were identified, some were captured and some were killed in shoot-outs with the Police, the Crime Chief asserted. He mentioned that recently John Anthony Heywood called 'Kirby' who was wanted for questioning in relation to several robberies and murders was fatally shot when he confronted a police patrol at Agricola.

Analysis on a shotgun Heywood was using proved that it was used in the murder of 12-year-old Kevin Browne who was fatally shot by bandits at Mc Doom in February 2006. He said that through intelligence they were able to capture Jermaine Charles aka 'Skinny', Terrence John aka 'Dog', and Dwight Da Silva aka 'Dwight', Delon Kenny aka 'Nasty man', Quincy Evans aka 'Juicy Dog', Dwayne Critchlow, Andy Williams aka 'Bushman', Sherwin Brant and Tenesha Samuels.

All of these men are said to be members of the Agricola gang and have been charged with various offences ranging from the killings at Kaieteur News printery to that of businessman Barbot Paul, Wordsworth Grey and 12-year-old Browne.

Makhanlall noted too that the AK-47 rifles stolen from the Guyana Defence Force have found their way into the hands of the bandits. To date, he said, 12 of the weapons have been retrieved and eight of these were recovered from the bandits who had robbed the two banks at Berbice, one was found abandoned at Melanie, East Coast Demerara and two were found abandoned at Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice.

Despite their successes, Makhanlall said they continue to face difficulties. He noted the challenge of identifying these bandits as their features have changed over the years and help from members of the public would be the key to their arrest and prosecution.

According to him there are still a few obstacles that are preventing them from effectively executing their duties, including the reluctance of witnesses to come forward to give evidence or information, refusal by victims to attend ID parades, as well as bail being granted to persons who had been charged on several occasions with serious matters and are still before the Courts. (Stabroek News)

Fisherman stabbed to death

A 49-year-old fisherman known only as ‘Tourist’ was stabbed to death Wednesday night in the Jibb Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast. Residents said the man, who had domestic problems with his wife, left his home at Hague on the West Coast Demerara several months ago to work with other fishermen on the Essequibo Coast.

He was staying with other fishermen at Jibb and went for a walk along the Jibb main road Wednesday night when he was attacked, villagers said. They said two men ran out from a house and one of them, armed with a long knife, stabbed ‘Tourist’ in the back.

The man ran down the street with the knife stuck in his back and collapsed in a neighbour’s yard after calling for help, residents said. The Police were informed and arrived on the scene within minutes.

Residents said one of the attackers was captured by Police as he tried to escape to Dartmouth Village and the other was still at large up to late yesterday. Villagers said `Tourist’ was peaceful, quiet, honest and loved children. They said he loved to buy sweets and share to the children of the village. (Guyana Cronicle)

Top Cop, other officers to meet public

The Police Force yesterday announced that in continuing efforts to improve its image and to foster better police-community relations, senior officers will be making themselves available to meet the public in their offices, on a specific day of the week.

The system begins Monday and the scheduled meeting days and timings for the senior officers are as follows:

A mother and four of her children and a cousin died when a car in which they were travelling collided with another vehicle on the Bath Settlement public road, West Coast Berbice, yesterday morning.

Shirma Vyphuis-Bobb, 43, her two children, Trevaughn Bobb, 14, and Briana Bobb, five, and her cousin, Debbie Edwards, all from Number 8 and Number 9 villages, West Coast Berbice, died on the spot.

Travis Bobb, a third child of Shirma, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and a fourth child, Trenton Bobb, 10, died late yesterday afternoon after undergoing emergency surgery at the hospital.

The vehicles involved in the crash on a stretch of the highway, passing through the `Venezuelan Housing Scheme’ at Bath Settlement, were a Toyota Corona motor car and a RAV 4.

Relatives said the Bobbs and their cousin Debbie were travelling to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, from where Shirma and Trevaughn and another child were scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom later yesterday. The car was being driven by Shirma’s sister who escaped with minor injuries.

The driver of the RAV 4, who complained of pains, was able to take his own discharge from the Fort Wellington Hospital to seek medical attention elsewhere, officials said. Witnesses said the accident occurred when the car travelling west along the Berbice Highway, and on the southern side of the road, collided with the RAV 4 going in the opposite direction and the RAV 4 slammed into its left side.

Krishna Sewlall, an eyewitness, said he and others at the scene spent more than half an hour, using a sledgehammer and planks, to prise open the twisted left side of the motor car to get the passengers and driver out. He recalled that one of the passengers died on the ground shortly after being taken out of the wreck.

“Getting the kids out of the wreck, watching how badly damaged their bodies were, was the most heartrending part,” Sewlall said.

Residents said the accident may have occurred when the driver of the motor car swerved to the right to avoid rear-ending a vehicle in front which had made a sudden stop. At her home at Number 8 Village, Shirma’s sister, Michela Fordyce, 59, said her sister was a nurse who had been working in the United Kingdom over the past five years and had left her four children in Guyana in her care.

She said her sister had always wanted to have her children united with her in the United Kingdom and had come home two weeks ago to partially fulfil this desire by taking two of them to live with her there.

She recalled helping her sister and her four excited children prepare food and “a little bit of everything” early yesterday morning to take with them on their journey to the airport.

“When they were ready to leave for the airport, I went out to the gate with them. They boarded the car. I waved and they waved and all of us waved and waved and waved until the car turned the bend and we couldn’t see each other any more,” she said.

Relatives of Debbie Edwards, 41, said she was a Senior Teacher in the Secondary Department of the Rosignol Primary School. The wife of West Berbice Guyana Power and Light Supervisor, Stanford Edwards, Mrs Edwards was also a final year student at the University of Guyana doing the degree programme in Education. She was going with her cousins to see them off at the airport, they said.

Mrs. Vyphuis-Bobb and her children are survived by her husband, Andrew Bobb, also known as “Blondie”, currently reportedly residing in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Edwards is survived by her husband Stanford and her 11-year old son Shevone Edwards. (Guyana Cronicle)

Jistice Jainarayan Singh yesterday granted $500,000 bail to beauty queen Carolan Lynch who was remanded to prison Tuesday when she appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle on a firearm and ammunition charge.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Nigel Hughes, had approached the High Court for bail after it was denied by the magistrate who had rejected the bail application that was accompanied a claim that Lynch, of Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, was suffering from acute gastric problems and was not likely to flee the country to escape trial.

When the bail application came up for hearing before Justice Singh yesterday, Miss Leron Daly, of the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecution, who appeared for the State, told the judge the State was not opposing bail. As a consequence, the judge granted Lynch bail.

The popular local model is jointly charged with her businessman husband Farouk Razac with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and one for unlawful possession of ammunition. The husband, the owner of the well-known Swiss House Cambio in Georgetown, appeared Monday before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys on the same charges, and was granted bail in the sum of $1M.

According to the Police, Lynch, on November 10 last, had a Beretta automatic pistol and four 9mm magazines. Police claimed she also had 120 rounds of 9mm ammunition without lawful authority. Police said the gun and ammo were found in their home.

Lynch is the third person to be charged following the arrest of six persons last Friday after Police raided two housing areas and confiscated guns, ammunition and cocaine. The couple’s Bel Air home was raided along with several homes in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Also appearing before Magistrate Gilhuys on Monday afternoon was Rhonda Gomes of Lot 3009 North Ruimveldt. She is on five charges, including possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of explosives and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. She has been remanded to prison and like the others, is to return to court Monday. (Guyana Cronicle)

A wanted and dangerous bandit, armed with a high-powered AK-47 rifle stolen from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was yesterday shot dead when he opened fire on Police and soldiers who cornered him in a house, the Joint Services said.

Dead is Anthony Charles, also known as ‘Kussum’, who was wanted by Police for questioning in connection with several murders and armed robberies committed on the East Coast Demerara.

The Joint Services said that at about 12:30 h yesterday, a cordon and search operation was launched on the Railway Embankment at Bachelors Adventure, East Coast Demerara. According to the Joint Services, during the operation, as soldiers and Police approached the house which Charles was occupying, they came under fire from him.

“The ranks returned fire and Charles was fatally shot during the ensuing confrontation”, the Joint Services said in a press release. The release said an AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing 27 live 7.62 x 39 rounds was recovered from the body.

Sources said the Joint Services operation was launched after a tip-off and Charles was killed in a house in Back Street, Bachelors Adventure.

He was pursued through the village after ranks spotted him drinking with two accomplices at a shop in Bachelor’s Adventure, the sources said. Residents said Charles was earlier seen walking through the village with two AK-47 rifles, as he often did. (Guyana Cronicle)

911 up and running

Police

The Guyana Police Force yesterday announced that the 911 telephone service, through which the police can be reached in emergencies especially, is available in all policing divisions. Depending on which telephone area code the call is made through, a specific Police Station/Operations Room will be accessed, the Force advised in a press release.

To sensitise the public on where callers will be connected when seeking police assistance through the 911 system, and to enhance the effectiveness of the system, the Force listed the following Stations/Operations Rooms that will be reached from the specified telephone area codes:

The Police Force emphasised that all calls to 911 made through cell phones, from any part of the country, will access the police at Brickdam Operations Room, Georgetown.

Additionally, it said, members of the public can also contact the police in an emergency, through the Quick Response line 225-6411 at Police headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, which is being monitored continually by ranks.

The gruesome discovery was made by neighbours and one of her three daughters around 09:30 h. Residents are shocked at the manner in which she died since she was described by all as a peaceful person. Osborne’s body, which police said bore a suspected wound to the back of the neck and abrasions about the body, was scantily clad and her left arm completely severed.

Up to when the body was removed from the scene, the arm had not been found. There was a zinc sheet covering the body and a tyre underneath. Neighbours who found the body said clumps of her hair stuck together with dried blood were found near a drum, a short distance away.

One neighbour, James Leitch, said he called the Police Monday night after he saw someone in the yard. He said he later recognised the man as someone who roams the area.

Asannah Thorne (left) is grief-stricken after seeing her mother’s body

Leitch said he called the Police around midnight, but they turned up two hours later and while some searched the yard, the others went into the house since the front door was unlocked.

It was then the officers discovered the home ransacked, drawers pulled out and items scattered about. They then noticed that the back door was broken and foodstuff strewn about the kitchen, Leitch said.

He said the padlock and keys were on a bookshelf near the back door and the Police locked the front door and took the keys to the station.

According to Leitch, the cops advised him that when she went home she should report to the station to uplift the keys. However, around 09:30 h yesterday, one of her daughters turned up at the home and discovered her mother’s body in the drain.

Osborne had been living alone in the home for the past three months and was the mother of Allethea, 22, Asannah, 20, and Abena Thorne, 18.

Pastor Phillip Bowman, President of the Seventh Day Adventist Conference, said Osborne’s death is a tremendous blow to the church. He said she was always content to spread God’s message and willingly did it by going from door to door.

“It was the way in which she died but everything is in God’s hands” he said, shaking his head sadly. The father of her three children, Alfred Thorne, said he was informed of the death by telephone yesterday morning. He said he was shocked and surprised at the way she died because of her peaceful nature. (Guyana Cronicle)

Swiss House Cambio owner Farouk Razac Rhonda Gomes

Less than one hour after he was granted $1M bail on indictable charges of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, the bond was posted and city businessman, Farouk Razac, yesterday afternoon walked out the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

Razac, owner of Swiss House Cambio, his beauty queen wife, Carol-Ann Lynch, and four other persons were taken into custody Friday following raids on several homes in Georgetown which netted guns, explosives, ammunition and cocaine.

However, only Razac, and Rhonda Gomes, of Lot 3009 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before the court yesterday. Gomes was remanded to prison until November 20.

Lynch, jointly charged with Razac, was not in court because she is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after she reportedly took ill in custody Saturday night. She was adjudged Mrs South America at the recent Mrs Globe pageant in California and was crowned here on October 27 by Mrs Globe Maria “Mada” Daphne of Greece. From early yesterday morning, the crowd at the Georgetown Magistrates Court began building up in anticipation of the businessman’s arrival. However, he did not make an appearance until 14:09 h.

Appearing before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys, Razac faced two charges of unlawful possession of firearm and one for unlawful possession of ammunition. He was not required to plead to the indictable offences. Police said that on November 10 last, at his Lot 106 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown home, he unlawfully had four 9mm magazines, being component of a firearm. The second firearm charge said he also had a Beretta Automatic pistol. In addition, Razac was charged with unlawfully having 120 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, in his successful bail application, said Razac has been living in his home for the past 15 years and is not a flight risk because he has his business and immovable assets here. “There is no useful purpose which is likely to be served from his continued detention,” Hughes argued. According to the lawyer, in addition the Police have seized some US $ 315,000 from Razac, which has seriously “crippled his business.” He said the cambio dealer’s business has been virtually shut down since he has been unable to comply with customer requests.

Investigating officers confirmed in court that the money was seized from the businessman’s home. Hughes pointed out that Razac makes significant contributions to the state in taxes and sporting events, most notably the annual Kashif and Shanghai football tournament.

In addition, he said, the weapon allegedly found in Razac’s house was not used to commit any offence. “There is absolutely no allegation that the weapon has been used in any other offences,” Hughes stated. He told the court that no fingerprints were lifted from the gun to link the weapon to either Razac or his wife.

Prosecutor Lloyd Thomas asked that bail be refused because of the seriousness of the offence. However, when both sides were considered by the magistrate, Razac was placed on bail and is scheduled to return to court on November 20. Gomes was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, unlawful possession of explosives, unlawful possession of firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

According to Police, on November 10, she had 10 kilogrammes 909 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. On the same day she is said to have had three fragmentation grenades and one concussion grenade. She pleaded not guilty to both offences. Gomes was also charged indictably for unlawful possession of an AK-47 automatic gun and an automatic rifle 008187. She was also charged with unlawfully having one M 35 magazine component.

In addition, she allegedly unlawfully had 1,632 rounds of ammunition –1,192 of which were 7.62 ammunition, 245 rounds 9mm ammunition, 77 rounds .38 special ammunition, 14 rounds 1.38 ammunition, 14 rounds .30 ammunition, 20 rounds .380 ammunition, 35 rounds .32 rounds ammunition, one .22 round of ammunition and 47 12-gauge cartridges. The three charges were indictable and she was not required to plead.

Hughes, who also appeared on her behalf, said Gomes lives in the home with her fiancée who is currently in the interior and had not yet been informed of what happened. He said that before yesterday’s appearance, she had no prior interaction with the Police. He said that although the offence is serious nature, she was unaware that the persons with whom she shared the flat were engaged in activities of an illegal nature.

Hughes claimed Gomes was subjected to “unorthodox” methods of interrogation and suffered “physical and psychological damage” as a result. He added that her attorneys and family members were frustrated at every level when they attempted to contact her.

According to Hughes, on Saturday morning, Gomes was removed from the East La Penitence station in a heavily tinted vehicle to an undisclosed location. He said he was finally able to locate her at the Beterverwagting Police station, East Coast Demerara.

He also based his bail application on her medical condition, saying she had a persistent tonsil problem. However, she was remanded by the Magistrate and is scheduled to make her next appearance on Monday, November 20, before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan. Also appearing on behalf of the defendants were attorneys-at-law Roger Yearwood, Ronald Burch-Smith and Mark Waldron.

On Friday last, Police arrested six persons after a large cache of arms and ammunition were found in the homes. Police said the items included an AK-47 rifle, one Chinese automatic assault rifle with improvised suppressor, two bullet proof vests with ceramic plates, three fragmentation grenades, one concussion grenade, 1,192 rounds 7.62x39 ammunition, 19 7.62 magazines, 77 rounds .38 special ammunition, 245 rounds 9 mm ammunition, 20 rounds .380 ammunition, one .38 round of ordinary ammunition, 14 rounds .30 ammunition, 35 rounds .32 ammunition, one .22 round, forty-seven 12-gauge cartridges, one pistol magazine, one pistol holster and 10.9 kilogrammes of cocaine, one Beretta submachine gun with four magazines and 120 rounds 9mm ammunition.

Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene attributed the find to increased intelligence gathering capacity of his force. (Guyana Cronicle)

'Dutch man' confesses to Grove horror murders

A labourer charged with killing an unidentified woman in New Amsterdam, Berbice, has confessed to the horrific murders of four persons, including two children, in a house at Grove, East Bank Demerara in August this year, Police said yesterday.

Troy Benn, known as Troy Felix and Dutchman, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with the murder of the woman, between May 23 and 26 last, at Strand, New Amsterdam.

Police said the man was arrested in the city and subsequently confessed to the murders of Danmattie Kayman, 43, her children Alicia Kirkpatrick, 7, and Melville Jnr, 3, and Fred Looknauth, 66, whose decomposed bodies was found in a house at Grove on August 2 last.

Police said he also confessed to killing the unidentified woman whose body was found in a drain aback a shack which he occupied in the compound of the Ameerally Sawmill, at Strand, New Amsterdam.'Police said she was strangled and thrown into a nearby drain and the post mortem report showed that she died from drowning and asphyxia. The case is fixed for report on November 27.

The bodies of the four in the Grove house were discovered by neighbours. Relatives said Kayman, who worked as conductor for the Route 42 mini-bus operated by the father of the three year-old child who died, had moved into the house at which Looknauth was caretaker, after she was reportedly put out of her house at Kaneville, also on the East Bank Demerara, in a “raw deal” she suffered at the hands of relatives from her first marriage. (Guyana Cronicle)

The Guyana Police Force has reported that public support this year assisted considerably in the fight against crime. Giving an overview of the crime situation for this year, Assistant Commissioner of Law Enforcement Mr Heeralall Makhanlall said that support from the public led to the killing of wanted man Troy Dick, and the tracking down of bandits who robbed two banks in Berbice.

Makhanlall made these disclosures when he spoke at the launching of the force’s Christmas Policing Plan for this year on Friday last at Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary. “This is a positive sign that the public is regaining confidence and trust in the Police Force which augurs well for the future,” Makhanlall stated.

On September 29, Dick, the last of five feared prison escapees was shot dead by police after another brazen daylight robbery. Dick was one of the five dangerous criminals who shot their way out of the Georgetown Prisons on February 23, 2002, and spread a long reign of criminal terror in Georgetown and along the East Coast Demerara, before four of them were shot and found dead in separate incidents.

Dick was also wanted in connection with the assassination of Agriculture Minister Mr Satyadeow `Sash’ Sawh who was gunned down in his house on the night of April 22, 2006. The other four persons who shot their way out of the Camp Street prison in 2002 were Andrew Douglas, Dale Moore, Shawn Brown and Mark Fraser.

On August 11, a heavily-armed gang of about 15 men stormed into the bustling Rose Hall town in Berbice in broad daylight and robbed the two Republic and Demerara Banks. In a display of firepower and military-like precision, the gang rounded up and forced people in the area to form a human line to block the main road as they carried out the robbery attacks.

Police said Surujdai Virasammi, 39, who had just withdrawn money from the Republic Bank branch in the town, was robbed of $10,000 and shot in the back. She was admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital. In the days that followed, the Joint Services carried out a relentless and massive search for the gunmen and eight of them were killed and five AK-47 recovered.

Makhanlall said that the public was also instrumental in the arrest of several persons charged with serious crimes, and these matters are currently engaging the attention of the court. He said that public support also prevented bandits from continuing their attacks on residents at No 2 Canal recently.

According to Makhanlall, through intelligence, several gang members were killed in police shootouts while others were captured and are before the courts. Those before the courts are Jermaine Charles called ‘Skinny’, Terrence Johnaka called ‘Dog’, Dwight Da Silva, Delon Kenny also known as ‘Nasty man’, Quincy Evans known as ‘Juicy Dog’, Dwayne Crithlow, Andy Williams known as ‘Bushman’, Sherwin Brant and Tenesha Samuels.

However, Makhanlall said there have been difficulties which hamper the Police in ffectively carrying out their duties. These include the reluctance of witnesses to come forward and give evidence, victims’ refusal to attend identification parades, and the importation of deportees, particularly from North America.

For 2006 so far, there were 136 murders as compared to 104 for the same period last year. According to Makhanlall, the murders were committed during robberies and domestic disturbances, while others were done execution-style. Makhanlall said that for the year, the most prevalent crime was armed robbery involving the use of firearms.

There was also an increase in the number of armed robberies as compared to the same period last year. This year, there were 990 reports of robbery under arms against 836 for last year. He said that Chinese restaurants, cellular phone stores, internet cafes, boutiques, money transfer agencies and gas stations were the main businesses targeted by bandits.

Makhanlall said that the force’s response has been focused on reducing the number of robbery under arms, and recently patrols have been doubled on a daily basis. Also, the number of roadblocks and cordon and search exercises has increased. (Guyana Cronicle)

Charges likely in big ammo, guns find

Beauty queen, husband still in custody

Carolan Lynch

Charges are likely tomorrow in the big ammunition and guns haul Police netted in raids in Georgetown Friday morning, Police Commissioner Henry Greene said last night.

He said the six persons, including a popular city businessman and his wife, were being detained over the weekend as investigations continued into arms and guns cache discovery at two homes.

Among those in detention are popular model and beauty queen Carolan Lynch, recently crowned Mrs. South America, and her husband, Swiss House Cambio owner, Farouk Razak. Sources said they were held when Police swooped on their Bel Air home during the Friday morning raids.

Police in a statement said the guns and other items were found in a house in North Ruimveldt where two women and two men were arrested, and in the Bel Air house.

The haul in North Ruimveldt, Police said, included an AK-47 rifle, which is not from the batch of 30 reported stolen earlier this year from Guyana Defence Force (GDF), a Chinese automatic assault rifle with improvised suppressor, two bullet proof vests with ceramic plates, three fragmentation grenades, one concussion grenade, 1,192 rounds 7.62 x 39 ammunition, nineteen 7.62 magazines, 77 rounds .38 special ammunition, 245 rounds 9mm ammunition, 20 rounds .380 ammunition, one .38 ordinary round, 14 rounds .30 ammunition, 35 rounds .32 ammunition, one .22 round, forty seven 12-gauge cartridges, a pistol magazine, a pistol holster and 10.9 kilogrammes of cocaine.

A Beretta submachine gun with four magazines and 120 rounds 9mm ammunition were found in the Bel Air home, Police said. Mr. Greene Friday attributed the find to the increased intelligence gathering capacity of his force. Sources said one of the persons arrested in the North Ruimveldt home is ex-policeman Shawn Hinds.

In 2004, Hinds and two others, Mark Thomas called ‘Kerzorkee’ and Ashton King, then owner of the A&D Funeral Parlour in Georgetown, were charged with the murder of cattle farmer Shafeek Bacchus. Lynch was adjudged Mrs. South America at the recent Mrs. Globe pageant in California and was crowned on October 27 by Mrs. Globe Maria “Mada” Daphne of Greece.

The Guyanese beauty, who was also a finalist in the recent Mrs World pageant in Russia, has more than 10 years experience in modelling and pageantry. As Mrs. South America, Lynch has the responsibility of working with the Women In Need (WIN) Foundation, which specializes in empowerment of women, but has programmes for youth and children. (Guyana Cronicle)

WELCOME POLICE OFFENSIVE

The Guyana Police Force is clearly stepping up to the plate, as the saying goes, in waging a recognisably more fierce battle against crime. The GPF's successes within recent months in capturing armed criminal bandits and caches of illegal arms should help to boost public confidence.

Now, with new anti-crime programmes unfolded on Friday by acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene, as reported in our yesterday's edition, the GPF seems to be finally engaged in a more coordinated campaign to smash the criminal networks at large.

With a more visible armed police presence in the business centres of Georgetown and environs, has come welcome news that some have long been waiting to receive. These include the proposed launch in the new year of a new anti-crime SWAT (special weapons and tactics) Unit and the re-introduction of the GPF's education media programme – ‘Law Enforcement and You’ (the public).

As crime sleuths were reporting new arrests and discovery of arms and ammunitions in ongoing anti-crime activities, the high command of the GPF was disclosing Friday special policing arrangements to protect the public's welfare during the coming Christmas shopping season.

This particular anti-crime initiative in Georgetown for the Christmas holidays will involve some 120 Patrol Officers under the supervision of well known Senior Superintendent, Steve Merai, as part of the general operations of the Force's 'Division A', under the Command of the very experienced Assistant Commissioner, Paul Slowe.

While we await to learn of similar initiatives in the towns and business centres of other regions, including Berbice and Essequibo, it is to be hoped that members of the public would appreciate the value of their own cooperation in helping the Force to beat back the criminals who have been causing so much death and despair for far too long.

The justice administration system also needs to be more proactive in addressing problems that must be resolved within the framework of a new anti-crime strategy that could go a long way to restore the national image of Guyana which has been badly tarnished by armed criminals, drug traffickers and gun-runners. (Guyana Cronicle)

Six persons, including a popular city businessman and his wife, are in Police custody following early morning raids yesterday on several homes in Georgetown which netted guns, a huge cache of ammunition, and grenades, cocaine and other items.

The North Ruimveldt home where Police said they found guns, a large quantity of ammunition and cocaine

A Beretta submachine gun with four magazines and 120 rounds 9mm ammunition were found in the Bel Air home, Police said.

Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene attributed the find to the increased intelligence gathering capacity of his force.

One of the persons arrested in the Bel Air home is popular model Carolan Lynch who was recently crowned Mrs South America.

She was held at Police headquarters in Eve Leary during yesterday but was last night moved to the detention centre at East La Penitence. Lynch is the wife of Swiss House Cambio owner Farouk Razak who was also reported arrested when law enforcement officers swooped down on their Bel Air home. Lynch was adjudged Mrs South America at the recent Mrs Globe pageant in California and was crowned on October 27 by Mrs Globe Maria “Mada” Daphne of Greece.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Capt. Gerry Gouveia, left, and members of the force inspect the arms and ammunition found in the two raids yesterday

The Guyanese beauty, who was also a finalist in the recent Mrs World pageant in Russia, has more than 10 years experience in modelling and pageantry.

As Mrs South America, Lynch has the responsibility of working with the Women In Need (WIN) Foundation, which specializes in empowerment of women, but has programmes for youth and children.

Sources said one of the persons arrested in the North Ruimveldt home is ex-policeman Shawn Hinds. In 2004, Hinds and two others, Mark Thomas called ‘Kerzorkee’ and Ashton King, then owner of the A&D Funeral Parlour in Georgetown, were charged with the murder of cattle farmer Shafeek Bacchus. (Guyana Cronicle)

Another man allegedly involved in the murder of East Bank Demerara businessman, Wordsworth Grey, yesterday appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan, charged with the capital offence.

Delwyn Carrington, called ‘Tall Man’, was not required to plead to the charge of killing Grey on August 8 last at Bagotstown.

Several others have been charged with the murder, along with those accused of killing the Kaieteur News pressmen around the same time.

On remand currently are Jermaine Charles called ‘Skinny,’ Dwight Da Silva, and Quincy Evans called ‘Jimmy Dog’.

Carrington was remanded to prison until November 27 when he is to return to court. (Guyana Cronicle)

Two families of Grant 1780, Crabwood Creek were attacked and robbed of cash and jewellery by three masked bandits at about 9.50 pm on Wednesday.

A suspect has since been arrested and is being held at the Springlands Police Station along with the vehicle that was used to stage the escape, minibus number GEE 3608. The bandits, who were armed with a gun, cutlass and knife attacked and robbed Ramesh Kalicharran called Kenneth, of more than $1M worth in jewellery and $132,000 in cash.

Kalicharran told Stabroek News that he was sitting at the front of his shop with his wife Drupattie, his son-in-law Irshad Subhan, granddaughter Nazmoon and five other men when the bandits walked up to them and opened fire. Kalicharran said the bandits shouted, "Police! Everybody freeze!" But he said when he saw the mask he realized that they were not policemen. He said the men had driven past them about 20 minutes earlier but they did not suspect something was afoot.

The bandits ordered Kalicharran and Subhan into the shop and told the others to lie on the ground. They dealt the owner seven slaps behind his neck and demanded that he show them where the money and jewellery were. Kalicharran said he pointed to a drawer that contained a gold band, weighing 45 pennyweights (PWs), three chains; two weighing 26 PWs each and the other 30 and six 6-PWs rings along with other jewellery all valued $652,000.

Another bandit placed a gun to Drupattie's head and demanded that she hand over her jewellery. After she refused he kicked her off of a table she had climbed on. Kalicharran said the bandit took his mask off with one hand and grabbed two chains that weighed 12 PWs each from around the woman's neck with the other hand. The thieves stole a 40-PW bangle and six bangles each weighing 10 PWs and worth $396,000 each from Drupattie and stripped her granddaughter of $104,000 worth of jewellery. Police later found the mask on the street.

Meanwhile, Drupattie's sister Billkumarie Jaideo heard the gunshots and ran out when she was attacked. Jaideo, 49, lives opposite her sister and brother-in-law. The woman told Stabroek News that she was sleeping in her hammock while her husband Nawrattan Jaideo was watching television when the shots rang out.

Billkumarie said in her drowsiness she ran into the street and saw bandits beating her sister and other persons lying on the ground. She said she immediately ran back and told her husband not to go out, but one of the bandits had seen her and ran behind her.

Billkumarie said the bandit beat her about her head and neck and told her to strip off all of her jewellery. He then took her over to her sister's home and told her to lie on the ground with the others. Billkumarie said the bandit then ran back to her house and she heard her husband saying, "Ow don't beat me, meh sick."

He was beaten about his body with a cutlass. Billkumarie said she was robbed of $200,000 in jewellery and $35,000 cash was taken from her grocery store. Her husband was robbed of his wallet containing $25,000. Both families live in one-flat concrete houses. When this newspaper contacted the families yesterday, police were in the area conducting investigations. (Guyana Cronicle/Shabna Ullah)

Guyana has recorded another poor rating for corruption according to the 2006 Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index.

Guyana scored 2.5 out of 10, ranking with eight others at 121 of the 163 countries that were surveyed for the index. The grade places Guyana beside Swaziland, Rwanda, Nepal, Russia, the Phillipines, Honduras, Gambia and Benin. Among the countries in the Americas, Guyana, along with Honduras, has been ranked 26 of 30 countries.

The index score relates to the perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts and it ranges between highly clean at 10, and highly corrupt at a zero rating.

The Transparency Inter-national Corruption Percep-tions Index ranks countries in terms of the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. It is a composite index, a poll of polls, drawing on corruption-related data from expert and business surveys carried out by a variety of independent and reputable institutions.

The index focuses on corruption in the public sector and defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain. The surveys used to compile the index ask questions that relate to the misuse of public power for private benefit, including bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds. It also looks at the strength of anti-corruption policies. Surveys are carried out among business people and country analysts.

The surveys used in the CPI utilise two types of samples, both non-resident and resident. It is important to note that residents' viewpoints correlate well with those of non-resident experts. Guyana's was rated with a confidence range between 2.2 and 2.6, based on five surveys that were used. However, it is not stated which surveys were used to assess the country's performance.

Guyana was added to the list last year and scored 2.5 out of 10 at that time. It was ranked 117 of 159 countries then. Since then, five countries were dropped from the last index owing to the outdated data, while nine others were added.

TI however warns against comparisons of a country's rank with previous years, since year to year changes in score can result either from a changed perception of a country's performance or from a change in the index sample and methodology.

The index was released on Monday and according to TI it reinforces the link between poverty and corruption with a concentration of impoverished nations at the bottom of the ranking. It said this shows that the machinery of corruption remains well-oiled despite improved legislation. "Corruption traps millions in poverty," TI Chair Huguette Labelle was quoted as saying. "Despite a decade of progress in establishing anti-corruption laws and regulations, today's results indicate that much remains to be done before we see meaningful improvements in the lives of the world's poorest citizens."

Almost three-quarters of the countries in the index scored below five, including all low-income countries and all but two African states, indicating that most countries in the world face serious perceived levels of domestic corruption. It was noted that there is a concentration of so-called "failed states" at the bottom of the ranking. Iraq has sunk to second-to-last place, with pre-war survey data no longer included in this year's index. At the same time, while the industrialised countries scored relatively high on the index, major corruption scandals in many of these countries were noted.

Seventy-one countries, scored below three, indicating that corruption is perceived as rampant. Haiti has the lowest score at 1.8; Guinea, Iraq and Myanmar share the penultimate slot, each with a score of 1.9. Finland, Iceland and New Zealand share the top score of 9.6.

Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Jordan, Laos, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and the United States were named as the countries with a significant worsening in perceived levels of corruption. Meanwhile, Algeria, the Czech Republic, India, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Mauritius, Paraguay, Slovenia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uruguay experienced significant improvement in the perceived levels of corruption.

Barbados (24) is the highest rated Caricom country, followed by Dominica (53), Jamaica (61), Belize (66), Grenada (66), Trinidad and Tobago (79), Suriname (90), the Dominican Republic (99), and Haiti (163). It should be noted that Trinidad and Tobago is considered to be one of the countries with an increase in perceived corruption and this is reflected by its lower ranking than last year, when it was at 59. In the Americas, Canada is ranked number one, followed by Chile, and the USA.

TI said that there were no winners in the Americas. Out of 30 countries in the Americas in this year's CPI, 25 countries scored below five, which TI said indicates serious perceived levels of domestic corruption. In fact, more than a third scored below three, which it said indicates a perception of rampant corruption. These include Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Venezuela, in addition to Guyana. It said clientelism and the abuse of discretionary power by leadership in these countries is prevalent, making public resources there subject to private interests.

However, substantially higher scores for countries with relatively strong democratic institutions, including Canada and the United States, as well as Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay were singled out for commendation. At the same time, it added that recent scandals show that they too must continue to strengthen their institutions. It noted the strong feeling in the United States that corruption is on the rise in Congress, with special interests able to buy access and Congress doing little to police itself.

TI noted the correlation between corruption and poverty in the Americas. It said in countries like Haiti, Ecuador and Honduras, with the highest level of perceived corruption, the reality continues to be one of the biggest obstacles to effectively fighting poverty.

Added to that, it pointed out that the results also call attention to the need for greater efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and install functioning systems of control and mutual accountability that ensure public resources are used effectively.

It stressed the importance of these institutions, calling them the main pillars in the prevention, detection and prosecution of corruption and, by extension, the fight against poverty and inequality. It added that countries in the region must support the implementation of global anti-corruption instruments such as the Organization of American States and United Nations anti-corruption conventions. (Andre Haynes/Stabroek News)

Man jailed for life for raping 4-year-old

Forty-eight-year old Orin Charles was yesterday found guilty of raping a four-year old girl and sentenced to life imprisonment. Following the unanimous guilty verdict at the Demerara Assizes, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards imposed the life sentence hoping it would send a message to would-be offenders.

Defence Counsel, Mr. Leslie Sobers, requesting a lenient sentence, said only the Lord knew the whole truth of the matter. Charles, he told the court, had been known to the child’s family for 15 years and there was no indication that he ever exhibited a tendency of that nature before. Sobers asked that judgment be tempered with mercy.

Prosecutor Miss Leron Daly had nothing to say about sentence, but left it to the discretion of the court. Before imposing sentence, the judge took into account the circumstances under which the offence was committed on November 25, 2004.

On that day, the court was told, Charles, a regular visitor at the home of the family, took the girl to his home after he was sent on an errand by the mother, and there he took the opportunity to remove her clothing and resorted to having sexual intercourse with her.

The judge noted that children are the future of this generation and therefore the courts have a duty to protect adults as well as young children. She pointed out, too, that the accused had been placed in a position of trust which he breached and that was something which the court could not take lightly.

Referring to defence counsel’s claim that there was no indication that the accused had the propensity for such an act, the judge added, “we have the evidence of the child and the jury have spoken”. Observing that the girl might have been affected by the traumatic experience, the judge decided to ask the Probation and Welfare Dept of the Ministry of Human Services to provide counselling to the child.

According to the judge, the child might have become traumatised by the entire event. Turning to Charles, the judge said, “the offence for which you have been charged is a serious one and the sentence of this court is life imprisonment.” The lanky accused took the sentence calmly.

Although he was sentenced to life imprisonment, legal sources said that with good behaviour in prison, he could be considered for parole after serving 14 years in jail. (George Barclay/Guyana Cronicle)

Relatives and others at the burial yesterday of slain robbery victim, Kowsilla Mahadeo.

One of the bandits drowned trying to escape after the gang of more than a dozen men attacked on the night of October 24, but the others were still at large up to yesterday as residents, family and friends turned out in their numbers for the funeral of Kowsilla Mahadeo, 56. She was buried at New Anglet also in Canal Number Two Polder shortly after 16:00 h.

The funeral service was extremely sad for Kowsilla’s husband Jagoonauth Mahadeo and her son Churman, who survived the attack by the AK-47 gang. The two collapsed several times during the funeral service and had to be held by relatives while bhajans (Hindu religious songs) and hymns were being sung.

Kowsilla was hospitalised for days in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) before she succumbed to her wounds, barely conscious. She was shot in the chest, thigh and ankle after the bandits demanded more money and jewellery. Her husband, Jagoonauth, 60, was shot on his left arm and Churman, 29, a taxi driver, was struck several blows.

The father said Churman returned home about 22:00 h and, after driving his car into the yard, was about to lock the gate when he was confronted by the attackers. Shots were fired at the car and he was taken to the house and told to tell his mother, who was asleep in the bottom flat, to open the door for Police. But she did not obey the command after Churman screamed and she realised they were under attack.

The gunmen kicked open the door, beat the husband and shot his wife while their son’s four-year-old daughter and his wife, Sunita Lakraj, 30, hid under a bed. The robbers ransacked the premises and stole money and jewellery in the 30 minutes they terrorized the family. Other families were also terrorized in the gunmen’s rampage.

Guns used by the gang, have been tied to the assassination of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh in April this year, Police reported. The AK-47 rifle found strapped to the body of one of the men, who was found dead in a canal two days after the robbery, was one of the 30 reported missing from the Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) earlier this year, Police reported.

The links between the gang which killed Minister Sawh, two of his siblings and a security guard, and the gang came from ballistics tests on shells found after the Mon Desir attack, Police said. (Guyana Cronicle)

Demerara Assize Court Judge Yonette Cummings-Edwards yesterday sentenced Buxton Side Line Dam butcher, Barth Vaughn , 41, to death for butchering his 38-year old wife Ronin Chester-Barth. “May the Lord have mercy upon your soul”, the judge said in passing the death sentence after the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict.

The case for the Prosecution was that the butcher believed his wife was having an affair with another man and had tried to enquire about the friendship but was beaten by his rival.

On December 28, 2003, Barth, the jury was told, decided to take matters into his own hands after accusing his wife of sleeping out the night before and returning that morning in a mini-bus with her lover. According to witnesses, the husband noted that instead of repenting, his wife told him he was no longer a fit sexual partner, and that she had to seek another man.

Police said he beat her on the head with a rolling pin and after she fell semi- conscious, he slit her throat with a knife, chopped off both her hands, leaving one on the bed and the other near her body, in a pool of blood on the floor. The court was told he then slashed her abdomen causing her intestines to protrude.

Barth, represented by Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh, pleaded not guilty, claiming he was an epileptic, and after his wife hit him on the head that day following an argument, he became dazed and did not know what happened afterwards. Hugh argued that the butcher was not the master of his mind that day and therefore could not form the intention to kill -- one of the ingredients to establish the offence of murder.

But Prosecutor Leron Daly, referring to the wounds and how these were inflicted, declared, “As a butcher, and accustomed to slaughtering cows and pigs and other animals, perhaps he mistook the bedroom that day for a slaughter house.”

Responding to the defence counsel’s claim that Barth did not intend to kill and that he was not the master of his mind, Prosecutor Daly asked, “if he did not have an intention to kill, why is it that he was walking with a knife in his waist? He had the knife there with the intention to kill. He not only had the intention to kill but he also had the intention to end his own life by drinking kerosene…but things turned out differently.”

Justice Cummings-Edwards summed up the evidence in two-and-a-half hours and the mixed jury took two hours to reach the unanimous verdict. (Guyana Cronicle)

At Berbice Assizes…

Caution statement by neighbour admitted in murder trial

Justice Claudette La Bennett yesterday admitted in evidence a caution statement by the accused in the murder case at the Berbice Assizes. The document was tendered through Police Detective Lance Corporal Paul David who wrote it for Meena Gilmore, the woman indicted for killing her neighbour, Nadia Isaacs. The admission was without objection from Defence Counsel Mursulene Bacchus.

The statement, written on September 23, 2005, while he was stationed at Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, said it was taken from Gilmore and witnessed by Detective Sergeant Winston Gravesande.

It quoted Gilmore as saying she went out to collect mail from a letter box and, whilst returning to her yard, Isaacs cursed her from a window and she responded before re-entering her home where she was playing gospel music.

Gilmore said two visitors to her were leaving when she overheard Dexter Price telling his reputed wife Isaacs to “come down, we will finish them off at the gate.” The accused said Isaacs ventured out and went to the side of her house where she uttered a series of expletives and challenged: “Come out, I want you all by the road to beat you all, because I will finish you off before I leave the country.”

The statement said the accused telephoned a brother-in-law, who advised her to report the matter at the Police station. Gilmore said, when her reputed husband, Dennis Bruce, returned from work at 16:00 h that day and she related what transpired earlier, he said she should not worry.

She said Price and Isaacs left with beer bottles in a carton and, when they reached Patrick Dam, he jumped off the bicycle on which he was towing her and Isaacs cuffed her on the face and bore her on the jaw, causing her to fall. Gilmore said her assailant ran away and hid in an outhouse and Police subsequently took the former to hospital and Central Police Station.

Prosecution witness Patrick Smith, of Lot 31 Angoy’s Avenue, testified that he was in his shop when he heard raised voices shouting: “Fight! Fight!” He told State Prosecutor Faith McGusty he was standing on the floor that is raised above ground level and had a clear view, through a picket fence, of Isaacs and the accused, whom he knew for about three or four years, pulling and tugging at each other while fighting.

Smith said, at the same time, Price attacked Bruce with a stick but he could not remember if it hit its target. The witness said, shortly after, Bruce attempted to separate the women but Isaacs rushed into Gilmore and a large crowd gathered. Smith said, about 10 minutes later, the accused entered his business premises and he observed spots of blood on the front of her clothing.

Then Bruce also made his entry, bleeding profusely and requested a telephone call for a taxi. Cross-examined by Defence Counsel Bacchus, Smith said the object Price picked up was a piece of wood but Bruce used his hands to separate the fighting women.

Another witness, Stanley Isaacs, father of the dead woman, told the court he identified the body of his daughter, to Dr V. Brijmohan, at New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary on September 26, 2005, four days before her remains were buried at Stanleytown Cemetery.

Detective Sergeant Gravesande said Bruce was bleeding from a wound on his chest when he made a report at Central Police Station. Consequently, the witness said he accompanied the wounded man to New Amsterdam Hospital where he was admitted a patient. Gravesande said he also saw the accused at the emergency unit to where she was escorted by other Police ranks. She, too, was bleeding from a wound on the right jaw and was treated and sent away.

The witness said, on his return to Central Police Station, he signed witnessing Gilmore’s caution statement between 20:00 h and 20:45 h.

Gravesande said, on September 26, at 08:00 h, he was at New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary where he witnessed the post mortem examination performed by Brijmohan on the body of Isaacs and the pathologist recorded her cause of death as shock and haemorrhage. The trial is continuing. (Guyana Cronicle/Jeune Baily van-Keric)

Commissioner of Police Police Headquarters, Eve Leary	- Tuesdays	08:30 h to 10:30h 14:00 h to 16:00h
Assistant Commissioner “Law Enforcement” C.I.D Headquarters Eve Leary	- Thursdays	13:00 h to 16:00h
Commander ‘A’ Division Police Divisional Headquarters Brickdam	- Tuesdays	10:00 h to 12:00h 13:00 h to 15:00h
Commander ‘B’ Division Police Divisional Headquarters L.F.S Burnham Street New Amsterdam	- Mondays	13:00 h to 16:00 h
Commander ‘C’ Division Police Divisional Headquarters Cove & John, ECD	- Tuesdays	10:00 h to 12:00h 13:00 h to 16:00h
Commander ‘D’ Division Police Divisional Headquarters Leonora, WCD	- Tuesdays	09:00 h to 11:30 h 13:00 h to 15:00h
Commander ‘E&F’ Divisions Police Divisional Headquarters Rabbit Walk Eve Leary	- Thursdays	09:00 h to 11:00 h 13:00 h to 15:00 h
Commander ‘G’ Division Police Divisional Headquarters Anna Regina Essequibo Coast	- Thursdays	13:00 h to 16:00 h

TELEPHONE AREA CODES	POLICE STATION/OPERATIONS ROOM REACHED
218, 223, 225, 226, 227, 231, 233, 261, 263, 265, 266	Brickdam Operations Room, Georgetown
326, 333, 327 – Canje, New Amsterdam and East Bank Berbice	New Amsterdam Operations Room, Berbice
232, 328, 330 327- West Coast Berbice	Fort Wellington Police Station, West Coast Berbice
322, 332, 336, 337	Whim Police Station, Corentyne, Berbice
335, 338, 339	Springlands Police Station. Corentyne, Berbice
220, 222,	Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD)
274	Vigilance Police Station ECD
229,255,256, 259, 270	Cove & John Operations Room, ECD
221, 258	Mahaicony Police Station, ECD
254, 264, 268, 269, 276, 277	Leonora Operations Room, West Coast Demerara
260	Parika Police Station, East Bank Essequibo
267	Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara
442, 444	Mackenzie Operations Room, Linden
445	Bartica Operations Room, Essequibo
770	Mabaruma Police Station, North West District
771	Anna Regina Operations Room, Essequibo
774	Suddie Police Station, Essequibo