Repeat offenders becoming a nuisance to society

Nov 19, 2010 News

Over the years repeat offenders have been a burning issue and more so, a worry to the business community.
Only recently it was found that a man, who was caught moments after a robbery, was out on bail for other gun robberies. That robbery resulted in the death of a businessman, Dennis Ramah, and another gunman who up to press yesterday remained unidentified.
Also in that incident, a rural constable and another gunman were shot.
In the wake of this incident, the question has been raised about one of the suspects who was caught. That suspect who is currently in police custody has been identified as Quincy Arthur. According to the police, Arthur is currently out on bail for a robbery under arms charge.
In an invited comment on the issue, a High Court judge, who asked not to be named, said that the judicial system leaves much to be desired. The judge opined that once an accused has been remanded in the lower court for robbery under arms, bail should not be granted in the High Court.
“What are we doing, granting bail in the High Court is defeating the whole process in the Magistrates’ Court. Why should bail be granted in the High Court if the accused has other matters….the same robbery under arms, in the court?”
The judge said that the law only provides for bail to be granted for gun crimes if special reason is cited. Some of these ‘special reasons’ which are offered in the High Court by lawyers include terminal illness and their client’s life being under threat in prison.
It was also pointed out to this publication that very often proper information is not passed on to the judge in the High Court during the bail hearing.
“What you find is that the judge is not made aware that the accused has similar matters before the lower court.”
In addition, the new legislation which says that gun crimes are non-bailable offences is also being defeated by the action of the High Court, since many repeat offenders are securing bail there.
Not long after, they are again in the magistrates’ court charged with similar crimes or in some instances worse crimes.
Only recently the Government of Trinidad and Tobago introduced legislation which will see repeat offenders getting life imprisonment for gun crimes. To this, one local legal officer who spoke off the record, said that the current administration should start looking at that possibility for Guyana.
“The local judicial system is facilitating the lifestyle of criminals, they commit the crime, spend a few days in prison, and get bail in the High Court…Out on bail they commit more crimes and the cycle goes on.”
In the past, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had flayed the country’s judicial system describing it as failing the victims of crimes and undermining the hard work of the law enforcement agencies.

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Repeat offenders becoming a nuisance to society

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