Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM
Sep 02, 2016 News
Arrest warrants have been issued for two witnesses involved in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of businessman, Shameer Ali Mursalin.
Mursalin, called ‘Kazac,’ a trader, of Grant 1805 Weld Tank Dam, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, was fatally shot to the head on October 24, 2015.
Fellow Berbice businessman Dennis Veerasammy and two of his employees, Basheer Harrinauth and Delroy Fraser, are before the court for the murder.
The matter is continuing before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, East Berbice-Corentyne.
The matter was briefly heard yesterday as two of the witnesses, Rocky Profitt and Jagdeo Ramdass, were not present. Bishram Deodat and Police Corporal Christopher Ebert were the only witnesses to take the stand and provide evidence in the PI.
Police Prosecutor Bernard Brown provided the court with an update on the status of the main witness (Profitt).
Profitt had provided evidence earlier in the trial. Magistrate Singh had adjourned the matter without allowing the witness to review or sign his deposition. He has not returned to court ever since.
Amidst public debate over Profitt‘s uncertified evidence (deposition), Magistrate Singh had issued a warrant for his arrest.
Prosecutor Brown told the court yesterday, that he was informed that Mr. Profitt had been seeking medical attention at a city hospital.
According to Brown, the witness is unable to attend court due to issues related to his health. The Magistrate then reminded the court that a warrant is still out for Profitt’s arrest. He also issued an arrest warrant for Ramdass.
Ramdass was set to be cross-examined by Defence Attorney Chandra Sohan. When Ramdass testified at the last hearing, the attorney was absent. Sohan, who is representing, the number one accused (Veersammy) had indicated he is “not sure,” if he will be providing further representation for the accused in the matter.
Sohan, who is also a former Magistrate, had indicated that he was not pleased with the negative publicity that the trial is generating. He emphatically stated that he never had any knowledge of any wrongdoing in the trial.
The matter has been producing a fair share of controversy. In addition to complaints about the aforementioned unsigned deposition and questionable adjournments, the General Manager of a city hotel was remanded to prison for allegedly offering $400,000 as a bribe to a detective attached to the Major Crime Investigation Unit, Eve Leary, Georgetown, for him to suppress evidence in the case.
Veersammy Narine, 52, of Robb and Alexander Streets, Bourda, Georgetown, has since been remanded on the bribery charge. Narine is a relative of Veersammy, one of the three accused.
Following yesterday’s hearing, attorney Sohan again expressed concerns over the reports published in Kaieteur News. He approached a female reporter, who was present at the hearing and expressed concerns over what he believes is one –sided coverage of the case.
Questioned about his position on the matter, Sohan said that he decided against withdrawing his services after his client’s relatives reassured him that they had no connection to the hotel owner who was arrested for allegedly bribing the detectives to suppress evidence.
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