Lawyers for businessman Barry Dataram have filed habeas corpus proceedings on his behalf as he remained in custody after his arrest on Saturday night.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday told Stabroek News that Dataram, a US citizen who is wanted in that country, was arrested because he breached a court order that was granted last year. Dataram, 29, of Ruimzight Gardens, West Coast Demerara, is one of several people here the US has on its radar for alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking. He is also known as Kevin Mogatani or ‘Fatman.’
Despite the arrest warrant, Dataram’s lawyer Vic Puran yesterday said that as far as he knew his client was not a wanted man as he had not breached any court order. Puran complained that he was unable to speak to his client, who is being held at the Brickdam Police Station. He filed the habeas corpus proceedings in the High Court and a hearing will be held today at 11.30 am. Puran said his client was visiting relatives when a van load of heavily armed police officers approached the location and forced him into the vehicle at around 10.30 pm on Saturday.
Dataram was arrested last year shortly after the bungled abduction of his wife and daughter in December by two Venezuelans, one of whom was shot dead by police. From the outset, the police said the abduction was drug-related and arrested Dataram. Shortly after the kidnapping and Dataram’s subsequent arrest the US issued a provisional arrest warrant for him and there were talks about him being extradited to New York to face charges of conspiracy to export over five kilos of cocaine to the country. Dataram was released after a successful habeas corpus application by Puran and he was ordered to report to the Commissioner of Police every Monday and Friday. He failed to report at the start of the year and police issued the warrant.
Yesterday Puran described Guyana as a “police state” because his client remained in custody on an allegation that he said could never amount to an offence. “In that he is in custody for breaching a court order, assuming but not admitting that he breached the order, the commissioner of police is not the proper person to ensure compliance of an order of the High Court,” Puran asserted. He said that the situation becomes worse because the commissioner is a lawyer and must be aware that he has no power or authority to detain Dataram for breach of a court order. Puran said police on Sunday refused to allow hims and fellow attorney Glen Hanoman to see Dataram and when they pointed out the unlawfulness of the man’s arrest to the duty officer at Brickdam Police Station she said she “could not deal with that”.
“I attempted to speak to the Commissioner of the Police at 11:10 this morning but he refused to speak to me and his personal assistant told me that the commissioner wanted me to give her a message for him and he would return the call. I told her to give the commissioner of the police the message that I was representing Mr Dataram and that I want to advise him, the commissioner of police, that he is detaining Mr Dataram unlawfully and that he has no power or authority to detain him for breaching a court order and I demand that he release him now.” Puran said the commissioner did not return his call.
Meanwhile, proceedings commenced in the Magistrates’ Court yesterday where Puran is challenging the US provisional arrest warrant for his client. Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton is hearing the matter and the state is represented by Sonia Joseph of the Office of the Director of Public Prose-cution. That case will continue this morning.
Those with speeches like the Rev. Wright, by name they judge!!!
John Smith said that he does not know why Dataram is running from the cops. John and the other bloggers have very convenient memory. Remember Lincoln…and Arokium…and the others…they do not trust the cops. That’s why!! Duh???
Another thinh…why do some of you said that Dataram family should be jailed when in the same breath, you had said that Fine Man’s family and friends should not have been subjected to questioning when it was clear that they were involved in transporting him around etc etc.
You guys are shamelessly bias and it shows with every piece you pen.
But seriously, this man Dataram should be put in jail once convicted of crimes.
don’t give him bail. he will disappear again. his lawyers are talking crap.
HOW LONG MORE WILL THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT BE A STOOGE TO AMERICAN IMPERIALISM ??
Mr. Barry Dataram is a native of Guyana, where he was born, educated, worked at Pln. Wales Sugar Estate Ltd., W. B. D. and domiciled at Patentia, where he had beneficially earned and contributed financially ( taxes, etc. ) to the inland and revenue, prior his adoption of US-citizenship.
He is and still remains a Guyanese by birth and by rights.
Why must he be extradited from his birth-place to the USA for a crime which he did not committed in his native country ??.
Why the Guyanese government does not have a common or constitutional law in the advent of protecting its’ citizens from international imperialism ??.
It is a case like Roger Khan, where the US-authorities could not have him extradited from Guyana to the USA, in fact, they had to kidnap him in Trinidad.
Come on fellow Guyanese, “ let the man walk “. We are living in a world full of uncertainty, where we have to struggle in our daily lives to survive.
The industrialised world known to be imperialist, is taking much advantages on poor nations and its’ citizens.
maybe you don’t see what drug’s do to the human race, if he is transporting drugs to the U.S.A they should send his ass here to face the music people that sell drugs are scum of this earth, ill gotten gains will not save him justice will prevail
Surmot the man is a US citizen which means and correct me if i am wrong but in order to gain US citizenship he had to give up his rights in Guyana so to speak.
Anyway he is accused of traffickingthat in the US so that is where he should stand trial.
Besides you know how things work in Guyana. You got money you got freedom
i will agree agree with you to a point, because america does not extradite their citizens to no other country, also america military can do the same in any country and are free from prosecution in the country he commit the crime.
this is what imperialist does and threaten to withhold aid if they do.
however we need the aid so ship him back.
Out of context but Please print;
Sr Evileyes:
—————CONGRATULATIONS!! for being one of the more INTELLIGENT and Talkative..
Thanks Arnold but I call it as I see it always trying to be fair and balanced…
lock him up throw away the keys
Being a lawyer and all, he, Mr. Puran is out of order! Furthermore, he is the one that should be arrested for harassing a senior police officer.
“I attempted to speak to the Commissioner of the Police at 11:10 this morning but he refused to speak to me and his personal assistant told me that the commissioner wanted me to give her a message for him and he would return the call. I told her to give the commissioner of the police the message that I was representing Mr Dataram and that I want to advise him, the commissioner of police, that he is detaining Mr Dataram unlawfully and that he has no power or authority to detain him for breaching a court order and I demand that he release him now.” Puran said the commissioner did not return his call.”
When you play with the puppies, Mr. Commissioner, the fleas will bite you!
Mr. Puran is showing total contempt for the commish. When a court order is violated, an arrest warrant is ordered by the court, ‘police state’ or any other.
Money talks! If Dataram is freed on this, then Oliver Hinckson needs to be a free man, today!
Do as I say but not as I do:
Grandchild: ” Grandpa may I tase some of your drink?”
Grandpa: ” This is no- no for you child”
GC: Why ?
GP: “Because it is not good for you”
GC: But I see you enjoying it – why can’t I taste little bit?
If the country is saying to its children to ” Say No To Drugs” then we all should say No To DRUGS too – he government/court/judges/lawyers/people should set example to its young generation.
If SURMOT had to write his thesis on International Law, he would base it on the concept of “imperialism”. (Whatever that is?) Nations of the world have to coexist with one another. And, they came up with a mutually beneficial idea: – the idea of extradition so that the accused can be tried in the nation where he committed his crime. Now that’s the reason why the GG must hold the man this time until, after his due process, he will be handed over to the United States.
By the way Vic, with all due respect for your scholarship you really tried to browbeat and denigrate the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ali Hack, in the last round. Lots of bogus and false arguments and irrelevant citations. Kudos to Ali Hack.
how many american citizens are extradited to other countries, so how they came up with a mutually beneficial idea. to benefit who?
America, is highlighting itself as the world one and only “SUERPOWER” , to which they are also practicing the supremacy of “SUPREME-POWER”.
They will indeed one day fell, within their own reach of their so-called supreme-power as the ROMANS and the EUROPEAN-COLONIALISTS fell for their atrocities to humanity.
There were many AMERINDIANS died at Jones-Town, by the hands of American sect, did any American officials ever faced trial in Guyana for such a mass murder, or did any enquiry ever launched, related to the deceased Amerindians?
Come on Oh! faithful and fellow Guyanese, how much more can we bare or face in the hands of American-Imperialism, or continue to be stooges to their Capitalistic-power. “We are Guyanese by nature, with one blood as brothers and sisters”.
The offences for which Mr Dataram is wanted are extraditable,according to the Laws of Guyana.If his lawyers can find sufficient grounds to prevent his extradition,the Police would have to release him.He should face the music.Every day bucket ah go ah well,one day he ……
“also america military can do the same in any country and are free from prosecution in the country he commit the crime.”
man i dont know what u talkin about…..get u facts right…imm in tha us army and believe me if u screw up u face u get into trouble.. u not only loose pay for 3-6 months but u have to do an extra 4 hrs for 3-6 months as “extra duty” (punishment) on top of tha 16+ hrs u do daily and that is monday to sunday and on top of that u still get paid the same flat rate there’s no overtime pay in the us military. so imagine doing 16hrs/day plus an extra 4 hrs extra duty and u still have to get up at 5am. so u will prob get 2-3hrs of sleep per day if u lucky ( sleep on your lunch break if u can)(if they let u) so believe me there’s no “immune soldier” unless u r a General or George Bush…( he’s not my president and i dont support him) imm just in this army to get tha benefits then imm out….bush could fight he own war . lol….
but they are still answerable to justice in the U.S.A. this is a country of law that uphold it no matter how rich ur or if you are a military personel and because of these soilders bravery and courage so much of you have the freedom in the world to express your view so don’t you forget that