Latest update November 18th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- ExxonMobil eyeing 8th project despite Jagdeo says 7th ‘iffy’
- City Mayor slams govt. for favouring foreign companies over locals for tax concessions
- Pope Francis urges inquiry into Gaza genocide allegations
- New aircraft for GDF commissioned
- Importing truck drivers from Bangladesh, a disrespect to Guyanese – Norton
Barry Dataram drug trafficking case… Magistrate fixes trial for October
Barry Dataram
After several adjournments in his drug trafficking case, businessman Barry Dataram will finally go to trial on October 19. He is facing a drug trafficking charge in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
This October date was set by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore when the matter came up yesterday.
Police Corporal, Bharrat Mangru, is representing the prosecution on behalf of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU). Mangru has informed the court that investigations into the matter are completed.
Dataram, of 13 Vriesland, West Bank Demerara, is not facing the charge alone. His 19-year-old reputed wife, Anjanie Boodnarine, of 79 Patentia, Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara and their friends Komal Charran, 20, of 265 Belle West, West Bank Demerara; and Trevor Gouveia of Best Village, West Coast Demerara were all slapped with the charge. They were also instructed to return to court on the adjourned date.
On April 16, last, at 661 Fourth Avenue, Block X Diamond, East Bank Demerara, they allegedly had 129.23 kg of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The quartet had initially pleaded not guilty the charge before former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The Magistrate had refused to grant them bail on their first court appearance even after a compelling bail application by their Attorney, Glenn Hanoman.
However, after the bail refusal, Hanoman made another bail application in the High Court. The defendants were eventually granted bail.
According to the Prosecutor, Dataram and Boodnarine share a common law relationship at the Diamond address. Charran and Gouveia claimed to be friends of the couple.
On the day in question, ranks from CANU swooped down on the house and conducted a search in the presence of the defendants. During the search they unearthed the illicit drug. The defendants were then told of the offence, arrested and charged.
On the contrary, Attorney Hanoman is attesting that the couple does not reside at the address. He is contending that the house in which CANU allegedly found the drug is accessible to numerous persons.
Anjanie Boodnarine
Furthermore, Hanoman is of the opinion that his client (Barry Dataram) continues to be abused and is suffering at the hands of law enforcement officers who are trying to secure a conviction for him. He is of the belief that they are trying to “sink his client.” As it relates to Boodnarine, the Attorney’s case is that the young woman “was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
In pursuant with Hanoman’s first bail application Boodnarine, who has a child with Dataram, had just arrived at the premises when the police conducted their raid. Boodnarine was at the time taking the child to see Dataram.
On April 16, last, during an undercover operation, CANU ranks swooped down on the house at Diamond and unearthed the cocaine.
According to reports, some of the cocaine was stuffed in frozen seafood, while the remainder was found to be bricks of raw coke.
As a result Barry Dataram, who was in the house at the time of the bust, his reputed wife and three other persons, were arrested.
Dataram, a Guyana-born American, had successfully fought off efforts to extradite him to the United States to face drug smuggling charges.
Between 2008 and 2010, Dataram was engaged in several successful legal maneuvers in Guyana’s High Court to avoid being sent to the US for trial.
The United States was unable to secure his provisional arrest because the extradition treaty between Guyana and the US clashes with the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act, which says “no one shall be extradited or kept in custody for the purpose of extradition from Guyana to another country unless provision has been made by that Commonwealth or treaty-country for ensuring that they would not be extradited to a third country for trial of any offence without the consent of the Minister.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Traditional media is still king
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News-Election campaigns are a battle for attention, persuasion, and votes. In this digital age,... 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
