COI into alleged plot to kill President…Top Cop had instructed release of prime suspect – witness

Jul 25, 2017 News

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Questions related to the chain of command within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were raised yesterday at the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the alleged plot to kill President David Granger.

Inspector of Police, Prem Narine told the Commission that he was among the leading policemen within the rank of investigators into the assassination plot.
Narine related that the investigation led to the arrest of businessman, Nizam Khan. The witness recalled that some time after Khan was arrested, instructions came from his superior to release him on bail.
He specified that instructions came from the hierarchy of the Police Force to put the prime suspect engaged in the plan.
When questioned by Commissioner Paul Slowe, Inspector Narine told the commission further that given the nature of the allegation against the suspect, he would not have released Khan. But, he was instructed by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to place Khan on bail.
Narine said that as a policeman he is not in the habit of placing suspects on bail unless he is instructed to do so by his superiors or until the legal time for detaining a suspect has expired.
Narine told the Commission that nonetheless, after receiving the instruction to place Khan on bail, he consulted with Detective Mitchell Caesar, who was in charge of the investigations at the time.
Under questioning by retired Chief Justice Ian Chang, the witness was asked whether he considered it improper for him to take instructions from a Commissioner of Police, who was on leave.
Chang is representing the interest of the police at the COI.
In response to Chang’s questions, Narine noted that it depended on the circumstances. He explained later that after receiving the instructions, he would have divulged the information to officer Caesar who was directly in charge of the investigations.
In his personal view, however, Narine noted that given the serious nature of the allegations, the matter required further investigations.
Meanwhile, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told the COI that on March 29, 2017 he received information from the Ministry of the Presidency about an alleged plot to kill the President. Blanhum recalled that as a result he had instructed ranks of the Guyana Police Force, (GPF) to launch an investigation into the matter.
Blanhum said that as a result, the man identified as Andrif Gillard, told a story to Detective Caesar. He said that Caesar later recorded 17 pages of statements from Gillard about a plan to kill the president
Blanhum said that as a result of the statements, businessman Nizam Khan was arrested. According to Blanhum, a search was also conducted at the home of the businessman, but nothing of evidential value was recovered.
Given the nature of the allegation, Blanhum told that instructions came from the police legal advisor to hold a confrontation between the complainant (Gillard) and the businessman.
However he noted that it was brought to his attention that Gillard was shifting his story and focusing on the personal issue with investigators.
Under questioning by Commissioner Slowe, the Crime Chief said he is aware that there are certain offences which are non-bailable, but the allegations against Khan did not amount to one. He explained further that non-bailable offences included murder and treason, but Khan was arrested for incitement to commit murder.
The Commissioner pointed out to Blanhum, however, that it was an incitement to murder the President.
“You don’t think that is treasonous,” Slowe asked. Blanhum stressed that he did not believe the report against Khan constituted treason. He said that there may be different definitions for the term.
Questioned by Chang, Blanhum said the investigations revealed Gillard had made several reports against Khan, but none was about the alleged plot to kill President Granger.
Asked based on the investigations whether any attempt was made on the life of the President, Blanhum said that there was absolutely no indication of such. He said too that given the chain of command, acting commissioner of police must seek guidance of his superior, the Commissioner, even while the latter is on leave.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d) Paul Slowe was sworn in as commissioner to head an inquiry mandated by President Granger into the persons, places, times, circumstances and events by, and through which, allegations and reports were made of a plan to assassinate him.
The plot had detailed a bounty of $7M was offered to kill President Granger some time in 2015. The man who filed the report had claimed that he went to borrow $6M from a businessman, said to be gold miner. Instead, the businessman offered $7M.
The commission will investigate and review the full range of the Guyana Police Force’s actions and responses to the report of the assassination plot and the extent to which such actions were conducted or executed with due diligence.

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