Latest update November 24th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Benschop released on $25,000 bail

Mar 07, 2011 News

Political activist Mark Benschop was released on $25,000 cash bail yesterday, and he said indications are that he will be charged for damage to property following his clash with Information Liaison to the President, Kwame Mc Coy on Saturday.
Benschop, who was being detained in the Brickdam Police Station lockups, told Kaieteur News that police woke him at around midnight and informed him that he was being released.
According to Benschop, he expressed suspicion that the police had waited until that hour to have him released, when he had already turned his valuables over to his attorney.
He said that he had intended to remain there until morning, but some other prisoners persuaded him to post bail.
Police ranks reportedly told the political activist that he has to return to the station at 09:00 today.
Benschop also questioned why police opted to release Mc Coy a few hours after the incident while keeping him, Benschop, in custody, even though both men had made allegations of damage to property against each other.
“They have indicated to me that I will be charged with damage to property…I don’t know why they would want me to return to the station when they have told me and my lawyer that I will be charged.”
Told by Kaieteur News that at least one eyewitness alleged that Mc Coy was the aggressor, two police officials suggested that eyewitnesses to the incident should come forward.
But Benschop expressed doubt that  eyewitnesses would dare come forward to exonerate him.
“Until we get the system straightened out, people would be afraid, not of Kwame Mc Coy…what people are afraid of are the consequences that would meet them. They would be harassed by the State. Kwame is being protected…and because he’s being protected, he can do as he likes…”
But Benschop again vowed to ensure that justice prevails in his favour.
Police officials who spoke to Kaieteur News were unable to say why Mc Coy had been released on $5,000 cash bail in contrast to the $25,000 bail for Benschop, when it appeared that Benschop suffered more losses in Saturday’s confrontation.
Benschop was assaulted and his vehicle badly vandalised around 10:00 hrs on Saturday while taking photographs of Mc Coy’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara residence.
An eyewitness said that Benschop was forced to flee the scene following a scuffle with Mc Coy, and after attempts were made to take away his camera.
There are reports that another man was with Benschop when the assault occurred and that he, too, fled the scene.
Benschop returned with police ranks some hours later to find that all the windows of his Ford pick-up had been smashed.
A cement block, which was on the bonnet of his pickup, had apparently been used to smash the windscreen.
He alleged that a laptop computer, digital camera, a camcorder, more than $200,000 and his passport and other documents were missing from the vehicle.
Kaieteur News understands that Mc Coy has alleged that Benschop broke one of the windows on his property.
A resident who claimed to have witnessed the incident told Kaieteur News that he observed Benschop ‘videoing’ Mc Coy’s house.
He said that Benschop also began to take photographs of Mc Coy, and alleged that Mc Coy retaliated by grabbing at Benschop’s camera.
The eyewitness also alleged that Mc Coy grabbed Benschop’s shirt, but Benschop managed to wriggle free and leave the scene.
He claimed that after Benschop left, Mc Coy smashed Benschop’s front windscreen with a cement block. Afterwards, Mc Coy allegedly removed articles from the vehicle. The eyewitness also claimed that two of Mc Coy’s workers then smashed the other windows on Benschop’s pick-up.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

West Indies ride on Greaves’ 115 to exert dominance over Bangladesh

West Indies ride on Greaves’ 115 to exert dominance over...

Nov 24, 2024

ESPNcricinfo – A maiden Test century for Justin Greaves headlined a dominant day for West Indies against Bangladesh on day two of the Antigua Test. After his 115 helped West Indies post 450 for...
Read More
Marian, Potaro, Waramuri and St John the Baptist advance into the semis

Marian, Potaro, Waramuri and St John the Baptist...

Nov 24, 2024

Adams, Ghani smash hundreds in runs-filled ERC T10 Tapeball 

Adams, Ghani smash hundreds in runs-filled ERC...

Nov 24, 2024

RHTYSC honours top LCSS Student with Claudette Foster Memorial Award

RHTYSC honours top LCSS Student with Claudette...

Nov 24, 2024

IBA President congratulates Steve Ninvalle on his re-election as GBA head

IBA President congratulates Steve Ninvalle on his...

Nov 24, 2024

Fireworks expected in Mayoral Cycle Road Race in New Amsterdam today as Mayor expected to lead ride off

Fireworks expected in Mayoral Cycle Road Race in...

Nov 24, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]