Latest update November 24th, 2024 12:15 AM
Too many cases being thrown out for lack of evidence and poor preparation – President
By Abena Rockcliffe
President Donald Ramotar took a swipe at the Guyana Police Force on Monday when he said that too many cases are being thrown out of the courts as a result of lack of evidence and tardiness on the part of the Guyana Police Force. The Head of State said that that reality is one which torments him “from time to time.”
Ramotar’s utterances were made at a ceremony where the Ministry of Home Affairs officially handed over a $158.4M building to the Guyana Police Force.
President Donald Ramotar
The ceremony was attended by police ranks, most of which were senior officers and the President used the opportunity to point out quite a few deficiencies in the Force.
One of the deficiencies cited by the President was the “amount of cases that the police make and are thrown out of court for the lack of evidence and poor preparations.”
Ramotar said that lack of evidence and poor investigative preparation are “simple things that allow lots of criminals to walk free in our society.”
He said that he hopes that the new building, which has been erected for training purposes, “and other facilities that we have in society will help to uplift the quality and standard of work, so that we will be able to prepare far better for the cases in our country.”
A case which suits the President’s referral is the treason charges against Army Reserve Officer, Leonard Wharton, Major Bruce Munroe and his wife, Carol Ann Munroe which was dismissed by Chief Magistrate (ag) Priya Sewnarine- Beharry who said that the charge laid against them was faulty.
The State had alleged that the accused were intending to use harmful materials to carry out their act but it was revealed to the court that a mere intention to reportedly commit an act was deemed treasonous. The court contended that vital elements to warrant a treasonous act were omitted in the prosecution’s case.
Last February, Dwight Da Silva who was accused of killing five Kaieteur News pressmen on August 8, 2006, was freed of the murder charge. Da Silva, along with Quincy Evans and Jermaine Charles called ‘Skinny’ now deceased, were charged for the murders of Eion Wegman, Richard Stuart, Mark Maikoo, Shazim Mohamed and Chetram Persaud. Evans was previously freed in the Magistrate’s court.
According to sources within the Director of Public Prosecutions, the matter against DaSilva was discharged because of the lack of evidence. He was released from prison early last February.
Also, in September 2010, it was reported that tardiness on the part of the police and some other extraneous circumstances, have forced Magistrate Alan Wilson to discharge several cases at the Lethem Magistrate’s court.
The Magistrate discharged no less than 10 cases, including a narcotics matter involving three Brazilians.
Lack of evidence was also cited as one of the reasons for the dismissals. Some of the cases dated back to as far as 2008.
In dismissing and discharging the matters, the Magistrate took into consideration the length of time that an accused spends in custody pending trial, and the probative cost to the state to transport and accommodate prisoners on every court hearing.
Wilson had accused the force’s administration of not doing enough to ensure that the witnesses attend court and have the exhibits presented.
The Magistrate’s Court at Lethem is convened every three months and most prisoners on remand are housed at locations that are far removed from the district.
There are other cases where ranks have left the job and see no obligation to travel to Lethem to testify in any matter that they were involved in while police ranks have been transferred.
The President also voiced his concern about the cases struggling to get to the court but said that “that’s another issue.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Jagdeo’s idea of transparency
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News- Transparency, as conceived by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, seems to be a peculiar exercise... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
