‘Never used since confiscated’
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that the spy equipment seized from drug accused businessman, Roger Khan over five years ago by the army is in the custody of the police and it has never worked since it was confiscated.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Office of the President, Jagdeo reiterated what he said at a New York press conference last week that the Government of Guyana could not give permission to Khan to import the sophisticated computer telephonic surveillance equipment from the Spy Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as was being claimed by his attorney. Jagdeo said it was only the US government, which could have done that. He said they have however since requested information from the US State Department on that issue as well as allegations from the US government that Khan may have been tied to a group responsible for over 200 murders during the period of 2002-2006. “We don’t have any hard evidence about these claims but we have nothing to hide so we have requested the information from the US and whatever are the responses we will make it public,” Jagdeo declared.
The whereabouts of the spy equipment after it was confiscated from Khan has always been an issue and only last week, the Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr Roger Luncheon could not say where it was when asked.
In a subpoena to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Khan’s lawyers stated: “FBI agent Justin Krider investigated Khan’s purchase of the computer telephonic surveillance equipment from the Spy Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and found Khan had permission from the Government of Guyana to purchase and possess this equipment.” The defence is seeking the testimony and all documents in Krider’s possession as these relate to the surveillance equipment purchased in Florida. In a background paragraph, the subpoena says that Khan is alleged to have used the equipment to improperly wiretap various high-ranking officials and others within Guyana in order to maintain his “alleged drug organization.” The equipment was seized on December 4, 2002 by an army patrol and turned over to the police.
Khan was later tried in a local court and freed, but since then there has been no public information on what happened to the equipment and many questions posed to officials by this newspaper on how the equipment came into the country and what happened to it after the court case went unanswered.
Stabroek News was told that following the seizure the equipment was confiscated and handed over to the government. It was then passed back to Khan at a later stage and similar type of equipment was handed to the police under the guise that it was the one that was seized. At one time the army had said that it had turned over the equipment to the police but the police later seemed not to know of its whereabouts. Reports had indicated that the laptop was capable of intercepting and tracing telephone calls made from a landline or a cellular phone and the software is reportedly only sold to governments.
At the time, then Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj said the use of the instrument did not breach any of the laws of Guyana.
I believe it was carried in this very news paper that the seized spy equipments were returned to the suspects after they were discharged by the courts. The SN could check their archives to confirm if the President’s account that his Police retained the equipment contradicts with what was published years ago.
How were the recent, or last set of tape recordings made if there was one set of equipment and it is in Police custody since that time? Now another question needs to be answered how many sets were imported into the country? Maybe one was declared and the other(s) came through the porous border as drugs do or maybe all came in that way.
i think they just want to cover their tracks but their is an old saying ..”all smart flies does get lock up in cow ass”. This is exactly what happening now.
So how could Roger Luncheon say he did not know where it was, quite interesting
YOU SEE HOW STORY GET MIX UP…THEY ARE CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER..
THIS ADMINISTRATION NEVER FAIL TO SURPRISE ME…
How come Jagdeo knows here the equiptment are and “only last week, the Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr Roger Luncheon could not say where it was when asked.” ?
gt2dbone…the reason why they could now tell us that the spy equipment is in the custody of the police is because they were Not telling us the truth all along and they are Not telling us the truth now.
It appears that any one with in the government that speaks out about what they know of the current affairs taking place with Roger Khan’s spy equipment and the government will be subject to a serious tongue lashing from Jagdoe. His action is showing us that they are trying to cover up all that took place under their watch but never mind what they do now the truth will come to light and they will pay for the wrong they are doing.
Imagine not even Dr Roger Luncheon could not say where the spy equipment was when he was asked because of Jagdeo. These people are afraid of Jagdeo and they cannot say anything. So it look like Jagdeo will be answering all the questions from now on in regards to all these killings that has taken over our beloved Guyana from 2002 to now.
Now all of a sudden the equiptment is with the police, why couldn’t they have said that from the beginning of the inquiries. something is still fishy here.
Look, the only ones who will give credibility to these statements are those whose job it is to spin and cover for this corrupted administration. There is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied. There is also a recognition that sudden revelations like these after months of circumlocutions and reticience means that the mendacity genes have taken over. What a bunch of crapology.
No nothing fishy here they just incompetent from top to bottom. This makes the Gov’t look and sound immature.
I absolutely agree with you.
OH MR. PRESIDENT, THE SPY EQUIPMENT IS SUDDENLY FOUND NOW.
THEREFORE, PRESIDENT JAGDEO CAN YOU DO US THE PUBLIC A FAVOR NOW BY CALLING A MEDIA CONFERENCE TO SHOW THEM AND THE PUBLIC THAT IN FACT THE SPY EQUIPMENT IS IN THE POLICE CUSTODY?
WE NEED TO SEE LIVE EVIDENCE MR PRESIDENT.
YES, I AGREE…SHOW THE EVIDENCE!!! AND DON’T TRY TO IMPORT ANY EQUIPMENT VIA FEDEX ( OVER NIGHT EXPRESS)..MR.JAGDEO!!!!!
If the spy equipment was with the Police all this time how come Winston Felix – the most honourable top cop of this crime period, had no knowledge of the equipment when he was the commissioner of police at that time. Winston its time for you to give us and insight in to all this nonsense. Speak out, let your voice be heard.
The computer could not have been in the custody of the police because it was used to tape Felix, Roger Khan said he made the Felix tape.
All the Govt. officials previously reported that they do not know where the equipment is because it was handed back to the owner……what the police force will be given by the Govt to SHOW is obviously not the real set of equipment….LORD PLEASE INTERVENE AND SAVE YOUR PEOPLE FROM DESTRUCTION – AMEN!!
As Guyanese we have to start pressing our leaders to be responsible, and settle for no less. We cannot continue like this any more.
Even the head of the Guyana Police Force cannot pronounce on the whereabouts of the spy equipment that was confiscated from RK and company. Only the President and perhaps Roger Luncheon can do this. The Police Force is so politicized, the commissioner is appearing to be a rubber stamp.