Wild, nonsensical allegations of Mark Benschop

May 13, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
In public life, I have learnt that there are certain types of allegations which must never be left on the public record, unanswered. My attention was drawn to a letter written by Mark Benschop and published in the Kaiteur News on the 10th of May, 2017. In that letter, Mr. Benschop insinuated that I may have unlawfully interfered with the administration of justice in respect of the preliminary inquiry into a charge of treason instituted against him, as well as, the High Court trial which ensued. Specifically, Mr. Benschop leveled two allegations against me: (i) that I had something to do with the preliminary inquiry being removed from the then sitting Chief Magistrate; and (ii) that I had contact with a juror during the period when the jury retired for deliberation in his High Court criminal trial.
Mr. Benschop does not refer to, or cite a shred of evidence to support these wild and nonsensical allegations. I reject them out of hand as absolute falsehoods. It is the first time I am hearing of them. The fact that they are made over fifteen (15) years after they are alleged to have occurred without more, should be enough to put them to rest. I maintain resolutely that I discharged my duties as a Special Prosecutor and a Minister of Justice in those matters to the best of my ability and by adhering to the highest ethical standards. I did so in a very hostile political and physical environment existing at the time and at great risk of exposingmy family and me to grave physical harm and even worse.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, at the time, was shot and fled this country, permanently. During that period, Guyana experienced its worst crime spree. Mortal fear had gripped this land. Businessmen were being killed or kidnapped one, per day. The courts were surrounded by heavily armed policemen while in session. Dozens of barricades were used to keep unruly crowds away from the courts. I received countless death threats during both the preliminary inquiry and the trial. Yet, I have no regrets. I am proud of my work in those matters. I was part of a team of three. We did it for the glory of the rule of law.
At the time, I held no influence of any kind, which could have caused a transferal of the preliminary inquiry from one magistrate to another. When I entered the preliminary inquiry, the matter was being heard by Magistrate Chandra Sohan, before whom it concluded. I did not know, personally, any person who served as a juror in the criminal trial. I certainly never made telephone contact with any of them. I consider it a travesty that no charge was instituted against the person who misled innocent persons to their death that faithful day at the Office of the President.
Mohabir Anil Nandlall MP,
Attorney-at-Law

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