Businessman Clayton Hutson released after several days in police custody

Businessman Clayton Hutson was recently arrested by the police and questioned in relation to several matters. Through an intervention in the High Court by his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, Hutson was later released on $50,000 bail.

Hutson’s name had surfaced last year when Trinidadian David ‘Buffy’ Millard was found hiding out in a house at Nandy Park. Millard had reportedly told investigators that he was working for Hutson who could not be found at the time.

Reports indicated that Millard was a bodyguard of Hutson and was at one time the general manager of his Lombard Street business. This business was also searched during the joint services’ many raids last year. The joint services had also targeted a number of locations associated with Hutson following Millard’s arrest.

Since then the police and the army were interested in speaking with Hutson, but no arrest warrant was issued for him until recently.

Jamaat al Muslimeen member Millard had been on the run from the authorities in Trinidad since 2003 and it is believed that he was in Guyana since that time. He was wanted in connection with the murder of Jilla Bowen and the attempted murder of Rasheed and Adel Ghany on June 4, 2003 at MovieTowne in Trinidad. He was acquitted of the charges during his court trial last year.

Meanwhile, Hughes confirmed to Stabroek News that having arrested Hutson following the publication of a wanted bulletin for him the police did not say why the man was being held. Stabroek News was told that Hutson was detained for three days without any charge and this prompted Hughes to file a writ of habeas corpus in the High Court to secure his release. Justice Winston Patterson who presided in the case granted Hutson bail. Asked why the police were seeking his client, Hughes said he did not know, but added that the police had asked Hutson a ‘couple’ of formal questions while he was in their custody.

Hughes said since being released on bail the police have not indicated any further interest in Hutson, himself a former policeman.

On January 14 this year police issued wanted bulletins for Hutson and several other men among them ex-policeman Ricardo Rodrigues, whose name had surfaced last year when the police had issued bulletins for businessman, Roger Khan, Gerald Pereira and Paul Rodrigues. Khan and Paul Rodrigues were later caught in Suriname during a drug bust and weeks after Perreira turned himself over to the police accompanied by a lawyer. Ricardo Rodrigues however has not surrendered. Four days after the bulletin was issued for Hutson the Police Force stated in a press release that three persons listed in the wanted bulletin were arrested. Hutson was one of the three persons. The other persons were Danesh ‘Sunil’ Persaud and Sheldon Chase.

Back in May last year the joint services had raided a property which is said to be connected to the businessman and several items were found. Six persons were arrested during the search but Hutson was not among them.

Reports back in May had said that a cordon and search was conducted at Lot 111 Collingswood, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, premises which had been rented to several persons.

Several persons including Millard were arrested during the search.

The joint services had also found an unlicensed 9mm pistol and seven matching rounds in the house.