Alleges he was beaten with law book

A 23-year-old man who allegedly had seven grammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking was remanded to prison when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Stanley Richard of 31 Albouys Street, Albouystown pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when it was read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.

It is alleged that on September 20 in Georgetown the accused had in his possession 7g of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Richard’s attorney, his client was searched during a funeral at  Le Repentir Cemetery. The lawyer told the court that nothing was found on Richard and there are a number of people who were present and are willing to testify to this.

Richard, the lawyer stated, was beaten at the cemetery which is a public place and later when he was taken to the police station he was stripped and tortured by the police. “…my client was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday [Monday] at 11am and he was treated and sent away at 5pm,” the attorney told the court.

Further the lawyer submitted that his client sustained head injuries after being beaten over the head with a volume of the Laws of Guyana. “I should think the Laws of Guyana are there to be  read and not to beat someone over the head with,” the attorney said. Richard, he continued, was also burnt about the body with a cigarette.

The attorney, before making an application for bail, also insisted that his client was framed.
Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith in her reply to the submissions by the defence said that certain actions can be taken with regard to the alleged beating and torturing of Richard. She further stated that the man was taken to the hospital after he said that he may have had broken bones, but it was verified that he had suffered no broken bones. The prosecutor then requested that bail be refused.

During Griffith’s response the attorney made several attempts to interrupt her. He also repeated to the court that Richard had cigarette burns on his legs and chest. At this point the accused rolled up his left pants leg and revealed what appeared to be a small but deep circular burn above his knee. The attorney again requested that Richard be placed on bail so that he can be taken to an independent doctor.

Prosecutor Griffith told the court that there was “no issue of any cigarette burns” and stated that maybe Richard’s attorney is trying to say that the doctor provided by the government at the Georgetown Public Hospital is incompetent.

The lawyer was then given Richard’s medical from the hospital to examine. However his attempts to make submissions to the court in relation to the medical were met with “We’re not getting into the medical” from the magistrate.

Richard was refused bail and he has to return to court on October 1.