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A blatant abuse of power
Dear Editor,
The nasty work within the Guyana Police Force (G.P.F) to harass and embarrass persons wrongfully from a position of power is responsible for me being a victim, only to endure much suffering and inconvenience in relation to my bona fide property.
Some time in October last year, a policeman attached to the Aurora station removed my trailer which was not involved in any breach of the law while it was stationary in my yard at Huis’t Dieren. It was removed unknowing to me. They used a privately-owned tractor and lodged it in the compound there.
Out of curiosity, on learning about the removal which was indeed baffling to me I proceeded to the station to ascertain the reason for such an action. Without any rank uttering a word, I was dumped into the lock-ups without an explanation for my incarceration which lasted for almost eight hours before I was released on $10,000 cash bail.
Before leaving a request was made for me to produce the trailer receipt which I did not hesitate to give to the Superior Officer who never returned it back to me but it did not make a difference as I kept a photo copy of it.
Still confused about what was taking place against me, I visited the office of the then Divisional Commander who promised to look into my complaint but nothing further was ever heard from him.
Much to my surprise, exactly one year later, the police came to my home and informed me that a file was returned from the DPP’s office with instructions to charge me for three indictable offences namely (1) Forgery of receipt for the trailer; (2) Fraudulent misappropriation; and (3) obtaining money by false pretence.
Here again I had to suffer the indignity of being placed in the Suddie Police station lock-ups where I spent overnight until the next day when I was taken before a Magistrate at the Charity court to answer the charges.
After an application was made by the prosecutor for the matters to be taken summarily, I pleaded “Not guilty” and was placed on $80,000 bail on each of the three charges with a date then given for statements to be served.
From the statements submitted to the D.P.P.’s office, no mention was made of me having produced a valid receipt to the police for the trailer with the one from the investigating rank being false and misleading to give a wrong impression ever so much detrimental to me.
During the hearing of the charges before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie court on Thursday November 21, last, the prosecutor did not offer any evidence on the forgery of receipt for the trailer and this was dismissed as well as the other two on no case submissions made by my lawyer at the close of the prosecution’s case.
The only two witness called by the prosecutor in the false pretence case were the victim and his sister from whom he testified he borrowed $250,000 to give to me as an advance for making of the trailer.
The lone witness in the fraudulent misappropriation case was the victim whose evidence was that he entrusted me with $120,000 to purchase piles but that I converted the money to my own use and benefit.
No police rank was called to give evidence, not even the officer who conducted the investigations.
The magistrate, in his ruling, stated that if he has the power he would have ordered cost against the police whom he castigated for being so absurd to cause me to suffer such a glaring injustice
He also pointed out that there was no legal basis for the police to remove and impound the trailer. He made reference to the evidence given by the victim which did not link me to having committed any offence whatsoever.
The Magistrate advised me to approach the police to get back the trailer and I did so in writing the very next day, November 22 last. A response is still being awaited. The earlier this can be given the better it would be for me.
Just to make it known, had the police approached me for a statement which I was always willing, ready and prepared to give the truth of what transpired would have been revealed.
At no time was any money given to me and from my own belief the charges against me were trumped up because the victim owes me a substantial sum of money. With his wife being a member of the Force, she and the investigating rank from the same station mischievously designed a well orchestrated plan to put me in trouble but did not succeed.
Naresh Rani
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