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The Robert Gates factor
Dear Editor,
Robert Gates, a witness at the Commission of Inquiry (COI) of the death of Dr. Walter Rodney was convicted and sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by a Magistrate in August, 2013, for obtaining $6,000,000 by false pretence from twelve persons.
Gates is not on bail and did not appeal his said conviction. However, mystery among the public and legal circles, now surrounds the freedom being enjoyed by Gates whose presence at the COI since the COI began its hearing without any prison officer in attendance, leaving and returning in the High Court compound without any accompanying Prison Officer.
The Commission’s lawyer Glenn Hanoman when questioned by a Kaieteur News reporter (K.N. 8.6.14) whether the freedom which the convicted felon enjoys is not irregular or unlawful replied that it was part of a plan; it should not be obvious that Gates is a prisoner; saying further that there are prisoners in jail who might harm him and his security arrangement might change.
The statements by Hanoman are factious, not even fit for fools like me.
It is clear that Hanoman and the State intend, irregularly, to keep Gates out of prison for the entire proceedings, then after he gives his evidence the State may pardon him resulting in no jail time and no conviction. Time will tell!
Does not the Director of Prisons have a duty to justify his action for releasing, without a Prison Officer, a convicted felon serving a sentence of 48 months for such a length of time?
Can this newspaper solicit the assistance of one of our eminent Senior Counsel to explain the circumstances and conditions in which a prisoner may be released from prison to give evidence?
Paul Jacobs
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