BASS operative placed on bail following shooting death

Jul 09, 2015 News

The question of the legality and the operations of the controversial Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS) has been brought sharply into focus after operatives of that entity shot and killed a Corentyne resident. After the man was shot he was left to bleed to death on the Number 66 Village foreshore, Corentyne.
The alleged shooter, Safraz Khan, 35, of Springlands has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Charles Caesar called ‘Naggazar’, 40, a father of two, and a labourer of Springlands and formerly of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, was shot in the right leg by members of BASS.
Caesar was among six men who were offloading a boat on the No. 66 foreshore. The vessel allegedly came from neighbouring Suriname with smuggled goods around 20:00 hrs on Saturday evening, when they were intercepted by the members of BASS.
It was while they were offloading the items from the boat that members of BASS approached and ordered them not to move and to lie on the ground.
According to one of the men, four shots were fired. They were forced to lie on the ground with their hands behind their backs. The motor vessel which would usually transport smuggled goods was captained by a Surinamese, and during the interim, the vessel sped away.
The men were taken to the BASS office and booked. The alleged smugglers were then taken to the Springlands Police Station where the BASS operatives told the police that the men were smuggling and should be placed on $10,000 bail each or be locked up.
The police were never told by the BASS members that shots were fired and that one of the men was shot. The BASS operatives also impounded the bus BMM 3850 which had cases of Aloe drink and Dates.
One of the men eventually called his sister who posted bail for all of them. All the while the injured Caesar was left lying on the foreshore bleeding from the wound to his leg.
It was now around midnight and after not seeing Caesar and realizing that he was not around, relatives and friends decided to search for him. They decided to make a check at the No. 66 foreshore, where Caesar was found lying around 00:55 hrs bleeding profusely from the injury to his right leg.
The man was shot just above the knee; the bullet ruptured the main vein which caused him to bleed heavily. The place was wet and with the cold winds, Caesar was left exposed to the elements and was trembling. The man was picked up and placed in the trunk of a car and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he succumbed.
The man’s death was reported to the Springlands Police Station and it was then the police learnt that someone was shot.
After investigations were launched, two members of BASS were taken into custody. However, one was subsequently released.
The BASS operatives are saying that they fired one shot in the air. However investigators recovered three spent shells from the scene.
The BASS operatives would usually carry 9mm pistols with 14 rounds.
In the meanwhile relatives have vowed to take the matter to the highest level since they are saying that their relative was treated worse than a dog. The men arrested also told relatives that racial slurs were used.
Relatives plan to leave no stone unturned in seeking justice. They are calling for the shooter to be charged with murder.
A Post mortem examination conducted on the body of Caesar showed that he died from shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot injuries.
Investigations are continuing and charges are likely soon

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