Latest update March 25th, 2025 7:08 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

GRA taken to Court over wrongful detention

Jul 05, 2019 News

Fazaad Hameed and Gavin Boodwah are suing the Guyana Revenue Authority, (GRA) over an alleged wrongful arrest and detention. According to Court documents seen by this newspaper, the duo claims that they were wrongfully arrested and detained at the Vigilance Police Station on May 25, 2019, by Customs Officers attached to GRA.
As a result, the men are claiming a breach of their Constitutional rights and in excess of $1 million each worth in damages from the State. On May 25, last, the men were allegedly arrested and placed on the bench at Lot 155 Lusignan Double Road, East Coast Demerara.
In their application, the claimants said that they were at the home of Hameed when they were also ordered to pay a fine for smuggling chicken into Guyana. According to the document, Hameed contends that he was the first to deny ever smuggling chicken into Guyana, yet he and his partner were placed to sit on a bench at his home.
In their affidavit in support, the men claimed that the Customs Officers demanded that they must pay a fine of $12 million. They claimed further that after resisting the charge, the officers reduced the fine, by half to $6 million.
Hameed claimed he refused to pay the said fine and insisted that he was not guilty of any offence.
He instead informed the officers that he was not the only supplier of chicken to GDF, but that they refused to listen to anything he said and insisted that he pay the said fine.
One of the officers then responded by informing him that if he did not pay the fine, he would have to be jailed at Vigilance Police Station. As a result, the officers allegedly informed them that they would be placed on $200,000 bail each, but it was better that they just pay the sum towards the fine.
The claimants however, insisted they were not guilty of any offence. Consequently, the Claimants were taken back to the Vigilance Police Station, where they were again detained. Later that night, their families paid the bail and they were released.
By that time, one of the officers informed them that their bail, therefore, was raised to $500,000 each. They claimed too that GRA officials subsequently informed them that the fine was reduced $5 million and that they must go to a Justice of the Peace to draw up an agreement to state how much they can afford to pay in monthly installments.
By reason of the matters aforesaid, the claimants said they were deprived of their liberty and suffered loss and resulting damages. The men claimed that by arresting, detaining and then imposing a fine upon them, the defendants collectively acted as judge, jury, and executioner, contrary to the rules of natural justice, Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana, and in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.
As a result, the men are claiming inter alia that the act by GRA is in contravention of their right to personal liberty as guaranteed by Article 139 of the Constitution.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Groups, schedule announced for One Guyana 3×3 Quest

Groups, schedule announced for One Guyana 3×3 Quest

Mar 25, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- With just 11 days to go before Guyana welcomes 16 nations for the largest 3×3 basketball event ever hosted in the English-speaking Caribbean, excitement is building. The Guyana...
Read More
2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Fixtures confirmed

2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League...

Mar 25, 2025

Virtual Meeting of Caribbean Boxing Promoters held, Guyana among six countries with interest

Virtual Meeting of Caribbean Boxing Promoters...

Mar 25, 2025

GBA AirBadminton Tournament spikes off with historic showing at St. Cuthbert’s Mission 

GBA AirBadminton Tournament spikes off with...

Mar 25, 2025

Briton John sets sights on another sweep with second leg win

Briton John sets sights on another sweep with...

Mar 25, 2025

Waramuri stuns Vreed-en-Hoop 7-1, as Bush Lot topple Ann’s Grove

Waramuri stuns Vreed-en-Hoop 7-1, as Bush Lot...

Mar 24, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]