Magistrate corrects inaccuracies in article

Sep 03, 2010 News

Magistrate Haymant K. Ramdhani yesterday highlighted what he said were several inaccuracies in a Kaieteur News account about the escape and subsequent drowning death of accused tax-evader Godwin Maxwell.
The article in this newspaper’s Tuesday edition had stated that Maxwell had plunged into the Mahicony River shortly after Magistrate Ramdhani had placed him on $40,000 bail on each of ten charges relating to tax evasion.
It had also stated that the magistrate had warned police ranks not to shoot at the fleeing accused.
This information was provided to a Kaieteur News reporter by a relative of the accused, Godwin Maxwell.
In his statement to Kaieteur News, Magistrate Ramdhani said that he was presiding in the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court last Monday when he saw Maxwell’s relative coming “unusually close” to the Bench.
“I immediately raised my hand and he stopped short. As he was about to speak in open court, I heard the sound of a gunshot. I said nothing save “Rise Court” to the Orderly. At no time I ‘holler’ to any Rank ‘to desist from shooting the man’ as Kaieteur News suggested. Quite the opposite, I never saw who fired the shot and at no time James (the relative) and I were looking through any window from the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.
Consequently, the words, ‘me and the magistrate look through the window, same time we see a policeman lift he gun firing’ as Kaieteur News suggested are misplaced.”
He also said that contrary to this newspaper’s account, there are nine charges preferred against the defendant and not ten.
He added that the defendant was granted bail in the sum of $45,000 on all charges and not $40,000 on each charge as Kaieteur News reported.
“Moreover, the defendant did not plead guilty to the charges when they were read to him…the defendant pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ on each charge in the presence of his lawyer.
As such, his lawyer, Mr. Leslie Sobers could not have prompted the magistrate to alter defendant’s pleas as Kaieteur News posited.”
Magistrate Ramdhani also denied that he had allowed Maxwell’s relative to enter his chambers, since relatives of defendants and defendants themselves are not permitted in Chambers.
He also referred to another article published in Kaieteur News on the 15 August 2010 in which it was reported that he had issued an arrest warrant for a former judge on a Friday, while presiding at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.
He pointed out that Friday is not a court day for the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.
Maxwell, 31, of Calcutta, Mahaicony, was being held in the Mahaicony Police Station after he was placed on bail by Magistrate Haymant Ramdhani on tax evasion charges, when he made a dash for freedom, plunging into the Mahaicony River in the process.
Maxwell’s body was recovered on Wednesday morning.

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Magistrate corrects inaccuracies in article

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