Chief Magistrate refuses bail for duo charged with illegal landing of aircraft at Lethem

Sep 19, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

The two Lethem residents, who were charged last week Friday with conspiracy to facilitate the illegal landing of an aircraft suspected to be involved in trafficking in narcotics and firearms, were further remanded to prison

REMANDED: Nathan Hamilton and Wazim King

yesterday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Nathan Hamilton, 21, of Lot 107 Beverley Hills Drive, Lethem and Wazim King, 37, also of Lethem were not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that between August 10 and August13, last, at Lethem, they conspired with Hutshan Ram Singh also known as Seon Singh, to facilitate the illegal landing of an aircraft suspected to be involved in trafficking in narcotics and firearm, in an unauthorised port of entry.
Hamilton and King, who are employees of Singh, were arraigned on Friday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman who remanded them to prison after refusing bail applications from Attorneys-at-Law Jerome Khan and Michael Sommersall who are representing the accused.
Magistrate Latchman transferred the matter to the Chief Magistrate for assignment.
Nevertheless, the Chief Magistrate ordered Hamilton and King to return to court on December 5, after transferring the matter to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.
According to reports, the illegal aircraft, along with an illegal airstrip, was discovered about a month ago by police about 10 miles from Santa Fe.
Kaieteur News understands that the airstrip which was discovered previously was destroyed by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Hamilton and King were allegedly hired and paid to rehabilitate it.
It is believed that the plane, said to be a Brazilian-registered one, and the airstrip, were being used for illegal activities.
The plane has a similar registration number to an aircraft owned by a bank in neighbouring Brazil, but the authorities there have not indicated whether the registration number, PR-IMG, is authentic.
The plane has since been handed over to the army and police have reportedly seized the front-end loader.
Meanwhile, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, confiscated two passports belonging to a Colombian and a Brazilian that were found on the illegal Beechcraft twin-engine plane.
It is believed that the travel documents belong to two of the persons who managed to escape when police and others were closing in.
A quantity of dry rations, medical supplies, clothing, footwear, two hand-held radios, flashlights, and cellular phones were also found during initial inspection.
The International Police Organization (Interpol) is also assisting in the investigation.
President David Granger had travelled to Lethem days after the discovery of the illegal aircraft and airstrip. The President urged security officials to pull out all stops to ensure that the sovereignty of the country and its borders are protected since the matter is being treated as a national security issue.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had said that there is information which suggested there was some level of collusion between those linked to the aircraft and law enforcement officers stationed in the area.
While there are reports that a large amount of cash was offered to the ranks, the Minister said that a conclusion will only be made once the probe is completed.
Kaieteur News had previously reported that a senior police rank had been allegedly providing security for the illegal aircraft. He has since been transferred to another division while some other ranks have been placed at different police stations.
Reports are that after the plane landed, the senior police rank accompanied by other ranks went to the location to secure the landing. It is alleged that the senior police rank went into the aircraft and stole some monies. He reportedly shared a portion of the monies with a few of the other ranks.

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