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No bail for Fine Man’s suspected helper
Thirty-year-old Omali Rogers has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder and harbouring a wanted person.
The Police are alleging that he is an accessory in the February 17 killings at the mining community of Bartica, where 12 persons, including three Police ranks, were shot dead.
He was also charged for harbouring notorious wanted man Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins and his gang.
Rogers, of Lot 83 Woodpecker Lane, Amelia’s Ward, Linden, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday, where the charges were read to him.
It is alleged that between April 22 last and June16 last, at Christmas Falls, Upper Berbice River, Rogers knowingly harboured Rondell Rawlins, called ‘Fine Man’; Cecil Simon Ramcharran, called ‘Uncle’ or ‘Magic’; Robin Chung, called ‘Chung Boy’; Mark Royden Williams, called Royden Durant and ‘Smallie’; and Otis Fiffee, called ‘Mud Up’; whose names and photographs have been publicly displayed or publicised by the Police as wanted persons in connection with the commissioning of the offence of murder.
He was not required to plead to this charge.
It was also alleged that Rogers, knowing that Rawlins and the others murdered Zaheer Zakir, Shane Fredericks, Ron Osborn, Dexter Adrian, Orvin Ferreira, Abdool Yassin Jr., Deonarine Singh, Errol Thomas, Ronald Gomes, Edwin Gilkes, Ashraf Alli Khan and Baldeo Singh on February 17 at Bartica, received, relieved, comforted, assisted and maintained them.
He pleaded not guilty to this charge.
After the charges were read, Rogers’s lawyer, Glenn Hanoman, pointed out to the magistrate that the Police had not stated under which section of the law his client was charged in relation to the accessory charge.
The prosecution then asked the magistrate for an adjournment on that matter until today in order for them to seek advice. The adjournment was granted on that matter.
Hanoman noted that the Police had already sought advice in the matter from the Director of Public Prosecutors.
Making a bail application in the other charge, Hanoman said that Rogers is a former school teacher who is now a mason/contractor.
He added that the Police arrested his client on June 1st, and kept him in custody until June 4th, when they released him on $40,000 station bail. Shortly after posting the bail, Hanoman said, Rogers was rearrested and kept in custody until June 9th, before being released him on his own recognisance.
The lawyer said that Rogers was told to report to the Police, and he did as he was told.
According to Hanoman, after reporting to the Police about three times, Rogers was arrested again on June 18 and taken to court yesterday.
He noted that, on three occasions, Rogers was detained beyond 72 hours.
Hanoman said that he filed a writ of habeas corpus yesterday, and that matter is fixed for today.
According to the lawyer, Rogers is obviously not a flight risk since he has been reporting to the Police.
Hanoman also said that he believes the purpose of the charges brought against his client is to avoid the habeas corpus proceedings.
He added that the Police have not stated where the offences were committed. Where is it that he harboured these men? Hanoman asked.
Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews said that in respect to the harbouring charge, Rogers is the person who did the transporting of Rawlins and his gang to Christmas Falls.
He added that Rogers was assisting them with foodstuff and had full knowledge of what was going on.
Matthews also said that harbouring criminals who are responsible for more than 20 murders is a serious offence.
Magistrate Robertson-Ogle refused bail for Rogers. The matter will continue today.
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