Roger Khan saga.....Govt. did not authorize importation of sensitive equipment

Roger Khan saga…..Govt. did not authorize importation of sensitive equipment

Jun 10, 2008 News

“Such a request by the law enforcement agencies of Guyana would have to be approved by the relevant authorities before an application is made by the Government of Guyana to the relevant American authorities for approval for the item to be exported to Guyana”

The Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday denied claims that the Government authorised the importation by Roger Khan of a sensitive piece of electronic equipment, seized by the Joint Services.

In December 2002, Khan, Haroon Yahyah and Sean Belfield were arrested while they where traversing the East Coast of Demerara in a bulletproof vehicle.

At the time of the detention, an arms cache, a laptop computer, and an electronic device to track cellular phone calls were found.

The laptop computer also boasted a map of Guyana and the various cell sites operated by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.

At the time, one of the men had told Police that they were hunting the infamous 2002 Mash Day escapees.
In a release to the media yesterday, the Home Affairs Ministry highlighted the fact that the U.S.A., like most developed countries, has strict export controls on the sale/export of such items.

“In Guyana, such sensitive electronic items could only be procured and imported for the exclusive use of law enforcement agencies…Such a request by the law enforcement agencies of Guyana would have to be approved by the relevant authorities before an application is made by the Government of Guyana to the relevant American authorities for approval for the item to be exported to Guyana.”

The release emphasised that the Home Affairs Ministry did not authorise the importation of the electronic equipment under question, nor did it seek any approval of the US Authorities for an export licence for the item.

The Sunday Stabroek News reported that Khan purchased the computer telephonic surveillance equipment from the Spy Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with permission from the Guyana Government. The statement was attributed to one of Khan’s defence attorneys.

According to the newspaper article, “In a subpoena to the Drug Enforcement Administration from Defence Attorney Robert M. Simels, dated April 28, 2008, it is stated that following Khan’s arrest, “FBI agent Justin Krider investigated Khan’s purchase of the computer telephonic surveillance equipment from the Spy Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and found Khan had permission from the Government of Guyana to purchase and possess this equipment.”

The ministry yesterday also stated that, given the context of the information being disseminated in the media, the ministry has since requested the American Authorities to provide it with the records of all such applications made by the Government of Guyana during the period of the operations of the Roger Khan outfit.

This is a second request by the Government for information relating to Khan.

The first request was made public on May 21, when the Guyana Police Force informed the nation that media reports regarding the murders allegedly committed by or ordered by Shaheed Roger Khan in Guyana, prior to his incarceration in the United States, had prompted the body to formally seek from the US Embassy in Guyana any information in the possession of the US Authorities in relation to the murders.

The Guyana Police Force previously announced its cognizance of the revelations coming out of the US court in the case involving Khan, and announced that they were moving in a direction that could lead to the questioning of several persons.

A senior Police officer, who asked for anonymity, said that the Police have been following with interest the developments of the case with regards to possible links to criminal activities that were committed in Guyana.

At the time the source had said that, while there was no official communication between the law enforcement officials of Guyana and the United States, he could not say what information was passed on to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud or any other senior local Police official.
“These cases remain open, and we are looking at every possible angle,” the local Police source told this newspaper.

Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a previous press briefing, had said that the Government of the United States had not presented the Government of Guyana with any evidence regarding the allegations that Khan may have ordered any murders, or were involved in any murders.

“From what I gathered, the US attorneys are presenting their case. We do not have any information from the US Government, that I know of, supporting any of these utterances in the court,” Jagdeo had said at a press briefing held at the Office of the President.

He noted that, as long as the Guyana Government is formally presented with the evidence linking Roger Khan to any murders in Guyana, then the Police will launch an investigation into the validity of the information.
“If we have any details about how they came upon this evidence, or what evidence they have, then I think that the Police should follow it up to the conclusion.”

He emphasized, however, that Khan was not in Guyana’s jurisdiction, “but we have an obligation that, if presented with any information by the US Government about Roger Khan’s involvement in any criminal act, that would be pursued by our law enforcement agency…That is my position.”

Following the request, leaders of the Parliamentary opposition parties issued a call for the immediate re-opening of the investigations into the killings of several persons allegedly at the hands of a ‘Phantom Killing Squad.’

The call was made in light of the revelations coming out of the US court case involving Shaheed Roger Khan.
Khan has long been speculated to be the driving force behind the Phantom Squad, along with former Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj, who has since resigned from that post and is currently Guyana’s High Commissioner to India.

Leader of the main opposition party, Robert Corbin, recalled the times when the Government vehemently opposed any investigation.

Leader of the Alliance For Change, Raphael Trotman, in voicing his support for the investigation, said not only must the investigating body be reinstituted, but its scope must be expanded.
“We have to get to the truth, whatever it takes,” said Paul Hardy of the GAP party, in adding his support for the investigation.