Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Four years after alleged Benschop assault…Kwame Mc Coy on station bail as cops seek legal advice
Four years after his alleged assault of political activist Mark Benschop, ex-Presidential Information Liaison Kwame McCoy will soon know if he will face the court.
Kwame Mc Coy
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed yesterday that Mc Coy was placed on station bail after being questioned this week about the alleged March 2011 incident.
“Police put the allegations to him yesterday (Thursday) and the file has been sent for legal advice,” the Crime Chief said.
Following an appeal by Benschop last February, police had reopened investigations into the incident in which Benschop claimed that he was assaulted and his vehicle vandalized by McCoy and his associates. However, police were unable to locate the file and were forced to take statements again from individuals linked to the case.
Benschop made the request to have the case re-opened after police arrested and charged Mc Coy, Jason Abdulla, and Sean Hinds for the May 2010 assault on columnist Freddie Kissoon.
Benschop has identified Mc Coy and Abdulla as two of the individuals who assaulted him, smashed his vehicle windows, and made off with items from the vehicle.
That incident occurred outside McCoy’s Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home, while Benschop was attempting to take photographs of McCoy’s mansion.
Benschop estimated his damage and losses to be at least $1M.
Despite evidence of extensive damage to Benschop’s vehicle, McCoy was neither detained nor charged, though he did give a statement to police.
Benschop was detained at the Brickdam Police Station lockups, after McCoy alleged that the activist had damaged a window on his property. He was eventually released on $25,000 station bail.
Mark Benschop near his damaged vehicle.
It was on March 5, 2011, that Benschop had visited Diamond New Scheme to take photographs of McCoy’s residence. The Political Activist had stated that he ran an online radio and a website, and was investigating reports that McCoy was building a house worth $100M, with a swimming pool worth $20M–$30M.
He alleged that while he was taking the photographs, McCoy drove up and confronted him. According to Benschop, McCoy “charged” into him. He said that two other individuals came from McCoy’s home and tried to take his camera.
According to Benschop, he was forced to flee for safety after McCoy and his associates surrounded his vehicle. He eventually returned to discover that the windows of his vehicle were smashed and his computer and other valuables were missing.
A resident who said he witnessed the attack, had recalled seeing Benschop’s pickup stop near to McCoy’s property.
He said that Benschop began “videoing” the house from the roadway.
The eyewitness alleged that shortly after, McCoy drove up in his vehicle, and Benschop turned the camera on McCoy.
According to the man, McCoy then attempted to snatch the camera.
He alleged that McCoy then exited the vehicle and grabbed Benschop, who wrested himself free and fled the scene on foot.
He told reporters that after Benschop left, McCoy picked up a cement block and smashed the windscreen of the pickup. McCoy allegedly then entered Benschop’s vehicle and removed a bag and other articles, which were allegedly taken into McCoy’s home.
The eyewitness alleged that two men then came out of the premises with hammers and smashed the other windows of the pickup.
Kaieteur News was present when Benschop repeatedly pleaded with police ranks, who eventually arrived, to search McCoy’s premises for the items that were taken from his vehicle. However, the ranks made no attempt to search McCoy’s home.
But the eyewitness claimed that after the police and media left the scene, individuals emerged from McCoy’s premises with a bag similar to the one taken from Benschop’s vehicle. The bag was then allegedly handed over to the occupants of a black car, who then drove away.
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