An informant for the US government yesterday said confessed drug kingpin Roger Khan ordered the execution of political activist Ronald Waddell.
And Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was again mentioned as having had contact with Khan.
According to Capitol News, giving testimony in a Brooklyn, New York courtroom, where former Khan lawyer Robert Simels is being tried for witness tampering, Selwyn Vaughn, 34, a professed former member of Khan’s “Phantom gang,” stated that after ordering the hit on Waddell, the Guyanese businessman contacted Ramsammy. He also said Ramsammy had been expected to help Khan after he was held by US authorities.
Reached for comment, Ramsammy last night dismissed the allegations against him as “nonsense!”. He told Stabroek News that he had been mourning the passing of his father on the same day that Waddell was murdered. In rejecting the claims he said too that “this is nonsense, it continues”. Ramsammy said further that he has important work to do and would focus on his commitments rather than claims being made in the New York court against him.
Vaughn, who is in protective custody and under special immunity that shields him from later prosecution in the United States, spent the entire day on the witness stand, where he revealed that in addition to Waddell, Khan also ordered the execution of Agricola boxing coach Donald Allison. The allegation in relation to the murder of Allison and an informant Devendra Persaud, had come up during pre-trial proceedings in the drug conspiracy case against Khan.
Ronald Waddell
Vaughn was the confidential source who helped the US government to implicate Simels and his associate Arienne Irving, who are jointly charged with plotting with Khan to threaten and bribe witnesses to prevent them from testifying in the case against Khan. In a transcript of recorded conversations with Simels, he had also previously named Ramsammy repeatedly. The Minister’s name was also on a list which included drug accused individuals, dead notorious criminals and present and past members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that was to be included in a questionnaire for prospective jurors for Khan’s trial.
In March, Khan agreed to a guilty plea on charges of cocaine trafficking and witness tampering.
Waddell, 57, was killed in January 2006. According to reports at the time, a dark-coloured car took the gunmen to the scene, where they were apparently watching Waddell’s movements from the seawall. According to reports, as soon as Waddell stepped into his car, two gunmen ran across the road and opened fire on the vehicle. They then ran back across the road, jumped into their car and sped away east along the highway. Police had arrested freed murder accused, Shawn Hinds and two relatives of dead ‘hitman’ Axel Williams, but the men were all released. It was believed that a city-based death squad with links to the underworld carried out the killing.
**********
According to Capitol News, Vaughn yesterday said he was in a Burgundy AT 192 motor car when four other named members of the squad turned up and shot Waddell. He told the court he had been the lookout man who was tracking Waddell and he called Khan on his cell phone that night and reported that the talk show host had left his residence and his car was idling on the roadway. Within minutes, four members of Khan’s squad, all former members of the GPF named by Vaughn, turned up and shot Waddell.
After the shooting Khan and his group, including Vaughn, reportedly gathered at a nightclub, from where Khan called Minister Ramsammy. The former talk show host, Vaughn explained to the court, was criticizing Khan and was connected to a gang of prison escapees based in Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Several telephone calls were played in the courtroom detailing separate conversations between Vaughn and Simels in the US as well as others.
Vaughn, who said that he became a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) informant after Khan was arrested and taken to the US in 2006, was asked specifically whether he ever met with Ramsammy. He said that he met Ramsammy both at Roger Khan’s Carpet Cleaning office in Bel Air and that he went to the Minister’s office on behalf of Khan who introduced them.
He also revealed that after Khan’s extradition to the US, it was expected that Ramsammy would help. In 2006, just prior to him fleeing to Suriname, Khan had claimed in newspaper advertisements that he fought alongside law enforcement to defeat criminals in Guyana. Vaughn noted that later, President Bharrat Jagdeo said publicly that Khan must say on whose behalf he was fighting crime. Nevertheless, Vaughn indicated that Khan’s group received help from Ramsammy on behalf of the government and he added that President Jagdeo would not like Khan to talk. He, however, concluded that Khan is not that type of person since he could have talked about his involvement with the Guyana government when he was originally held by US authorities and would have walked right out.
******
Speaking about the murder of Allison, Vaughn said he was the lookout in that hit as well. Khan, he said, called him to ask for the location of Allison and after receiving the information members of the “Phantom squad” came out and shot Allison dead. Later, in retaliation the daughter of one of the members of the squad was kidnapped. Allison was the uncle of former army officer David Clarke, who was identified to testify against Khan. Khan had vehemently denied having anything to do with Allison’s murder.
The star witness named several Guyanese individuals who are involved in the narcotics trade between Guyana and North America and Europe. Their photographs and phone numbers were displayed in court and in some cases telephone conversations were played.
The involvement of Khan in trying to quell and capture the five February 23 prison escapees was also mentioned in the testimony. The jury learnt that Khan organized various houses to have money placed there to lure the escapees to those targets so they could have been eliminated. The witness in sworn testimony said that he was asked because he was a schoolmate of Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins to infiltrate the Buxton group on behalf of Khan. There were two attempts to send explosives into Buxton to blow up the Gang. Guns were brought in from Brazil though an employee of a timber company that Khan later bought.
According to Vaughn’s testimony, a man targeted for extradition from Guyana was also part of the Khan organization, helping to facilitate the movement of hundreds of kilos of drugs out of Guyana. He told the court that at one stage Khan said just to run the “Phantom squad” and pay all the members he would have to land 500 kilos of cocaine per year into the US and Europe. The witness also said he saw cocaine at Khan’s Bel Air House and he saw Khan give a kilo of cocaine to a man whom he named.
According to a report in the New York Law Journal, the trial, which began on Monday, is being closely followed by New York’s legal community. The courtroom was packed with the overflow watching from the courthouse’s third-floor cafeteria via closed-circuit television.
Simels, 62, faces up to 10 years in prison.
The report noted that Khan was indicted in the Eastern District of New York in April 2006 and charged with heading the Phantom Squad, a Guyana-based paramilitary drug cartel that smuggled and distributed cocaine to Brooklyn. He hired Simels, a defence attorney known for representing high-profile drug dealers and members of organized crime families—including Henry Hill, the mobster played by Ray Liotta in “GoodFellas”—to represent him.
According to an affidavit filed by a special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, soon thereafter Simels met with a member of the Phantom Squad-Vaughn, a government informant who recorded their conversations, and advised him that Khan would need to “eliminate” or “neutralize” potential witnesses. In one excerpt from the recordings, the informant allegedly told Simels that one potential witness wanted $10,000 in order to sign a contract agreeing to testify in favour of Khan.
The following four extracted portions are key to nailing the Government as complicit in the Khan murder saga, drugs smuggling and obvious law-breaking:
1. ” He said that he met Ramsammy both at Roger Khan’s Carpet Cleaning office in Bel Air and that he went to the Minister’s office on behalf of Khan who introduced them.”
2. “Vaughn noted that later, President Bharrat Jagdeo said publicly that Khan must say on whose behalf he was fighting crime. Nevertheless, Vaughn indicated that Khan’s group received help from Ramsammy on behalf of the government and he added that President Jagdeo would not like Khan to talk.”
3. The witness in sworn testimony said that he was asked because he was a schoolmate of Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins to infiltrate the Buxton group on behalf of Khan. There were two attempts to send explosives into Buxton to blow up the Gang. Guns were brought in from Brazil though an employee of a timber company that Khan later bought. (So was the land deal that went sour because Sash Sawh denied it for Khan the real reason Sash Sawh died like Waddell?)
4. According to Vaughn’s testimony…at one stage Khan said just to run the “Phantom squad” and pay all the members he would have to land 500 kilos of cocaine per year into the US and Europe. The witness also said he saw cocaine at Khan’s Bel Air House and he saw Khan give a kilo of cocaine to a man whom he named. (Khan was not merely fighting criminal elements to help save the government; he was also seeking to help himself stay in business. His own business security was dependent on the regime’s security. Wow!)
Finally, even if Ramsammy is a US citizen, he could be facing questioning in the US if it can be partially proven he knew of Khan’s drugs smuggling to America.
Jagdeo must put a 25 Million reward out for information regarding this Raja Khan situation now!
To Rohee & Greene:
The intellectual players are emerging via the Roger Khan saga. Speak up today and let us hear what you have to say now.
By the time the US is done shaking the RK tree, the puzzles will be solved with a surprised ending. Guyana is pretty much over.
Time will tell when everything will fall apart for whosoever and all whosoever is involved with the killings of all those who died by the hands of the WICKED!!!
Blessed is the man that walked not in the counsel of the ungodly…nor standeth in the way of Sinners…
Andy,
“Vaughn indicated that Khan’s group received help from Ramsammy on behalf of the government” Who helped the so called Freedumb Fighters to survive in the Buxton backlands? Somehow these wanted men conveniently had their ammo, ration, and even first aid kits replenished with ease.
What ever happened to those alleged recordings of Police Commissioner Felix and PNCR members? What happened to those alleged tapes of PNCR members meeting with Gang members of Buxton?
These tapes were all sent to Uncle Sam to get authenticated; its 2009+ when are we going to get the results?
NeNe,
I reverse those negative words issued over our beloved country.
I know you mean no harm but be careful with your words my friend…….. As Long as the Almighty is in charge, Guyana will NEVER be over!………….Politicians yes, but not Guyana.
how glad they are that guyana is over, well they try to bring down gagraj, now ramsammy.
guyana is intact and the real freedumb fighters days are coming
to an end.
see the list to come soon, judges, politicians and the little fishes all are spilling the beams.
Proofs soldier proofs man this is proofs coming to light here in the American Justice system.
Coolieman?, Yawn red rover.
Oh by the way I have to do the honorable thing, SN Why you printing these biased opposition media stories? you are trying to de stabilize the government or what?
Rohee you are an intellectual, rightfully as you said yesterday, many in your government are the same intellectual players that are bringing down your own government.
Hey one thing the people of Guyana have on their side and that is time brothers and sisters, time my people time!
WOW, what a revelation continues…
No Mister Home Affairs Minister and Police Commissioner, Who are the Intellectual Authors of the above mentioned events?
Let me make a wild stab in the Dark PNC/AFC anything but PPP.
Mr Ramsammy you were quick to name the leveling of MoH building, Domestic terrorism and a heinous terrorist Act and that it is but what do you call the current allegations against you?
Now we all know uncle Sam don’t spew hot air like GPF unless they have Hard Evidence to guarantee a conviction.. So let see where the bread crumbs lead.
I am waiting patiently for the results.
LOVEGT4REAL when I say Guyana is over, I am referring to people who are governing presently. Of course the land will be there forever.
SN refuse to post my comments so you get the nod today Som-a-row,,, this is considered very uneven by me Mr Moderator…
Anti government, pro-PNCR news paper, when is my comment going to get publish? You all don’t like to hear the truth, I almost forgot, we have the bias Wednesday moderator today.
brandon what you and your leader have to say about the terrorist that burn those buildings, they are all muted and they want to lead, well they can continue to follow.
SN AXED this again.
SN why you doing soldier so bad? i know you chaps there are the opposition and you are biased and you are everything that is rotten in this world you Stabroek news vagrants you.
But please publish solideer’s comments.After all the real true and fantastic chronicle that gets subsidies from the government to the tune of 200 million a year to publish ahhh the “truth” cannot seem to allow solideer to spread his propaganda so can you please stop your nansense and publish solideers comments?
Solideer whappen Guyana times bruk? no blogs dere? tell jagdeo give dem some ads and money to start a blog nuh? ow come on man PPP cant even do dat right?
I already told you freespeech I will speak for myself the leaders of the AFC will speak for the party they represent and lead.
Buildings being burnt and the rest of the nonsense going on in Guyana are the seeds that your government has sown. When you want to indulge in criminality the results are very unpredictable Solideer and Freespeech. Maybe your PPP need to consult with their half brother the PHENC and get some more tips on how when you put yuh hand in tiger mouth sometimes he can bite.
The PPP will have to deal with all of the consequences of their actions. I am not condoning what criminals did to burn down property belonging to the people of Guyana but your government is as much responsible for those actions of the so called terrorists as the terrrrrorrrrissstts themselves. Hopefully your brain can digest, understand and appreciate what I just imparted on you.
RodRick, it is time that you stop putting your head in the sand. The “freedom fighters” are not on trial here. Also,the evidence presented in the US court are not against them. EVEN THE BLIND CAN SEE THAT ALL THE EVIDENCE POINT TO ROGER KHAN AND HIS LINKS TO THE JAGDEO ADMINISTRATION.
Since Mr. Ramsammy and all the other PPP clan are ‘INNOCENT’, you should encourage them TO GO TO THE USA AND DEFEND THEMSELVES. I am sure that the US government will be willing to issue free visas to them all.
let the chips fall where they may. Go Vaughn, talk de things dem! Vaughn is a former TSU/ black clothes that was interdicted after he and a gang allegedly robbed a minning camp in the interior. I have no reason to doubt his testimony, since he was intimately involved with the phantom.
all those senior ones who think the can keep hiding and denying, think again. your day of judgment soon come.
“for the youths yo pay to do de murder, all the bodies they dump in the gutter”
“whoa be onto you mr. heartless, everything you will pay for”
” for all the people you make suffer, for the blood money that make you richer”
“whoa be onto you mr. heartless, your end will be bitter”
Anthony B.
This is scary stuff. And it comes only days after Biscuit’s death while in police custody.
Where is the outrage by Guyanese?
Where is the representation of the basic Human Rights of Guyanese?
When will it end?
This is it, the PPP’s days are numbered. My prediction is that when this is done and written the PPP as a political party will cease to exist.
A FEE CEE will dry and weather away like all the rest.
just like a branch broken from the tree.
gap1: You asked “Where is the outrage by Guyanese?” They are on the Western Union line waiting to collect!
Well only the truly blind won’t have seen that Waddell’s killing was linked to the main killing squad. What is necessary to know that to every action there is an equal & opposite reaction. Some may also say that karma is a ‘biatch’ since whatever you do will one day return to you. The fact that the PPP/C refused to carry out a legitimate investigation into the killing of Guyana’s first Ras Tafari parliamentarian & advocate for racial harmony in our land is a sure sign that their objective is to live off the racial divide. My main concern is when will those involved, & still enjoying their PPP/C made safe haven, be made to pay for their doings. “Moon a run ’til day ketch am.”
Fulano, you can fool some but you can’t fool all. What racial harmony Waddell preached?? He was one of the guys that encouraged the freedumb fighters. In fact, it was believed that he “interviewed” their leader. I can go on and on, but do not have time for the nonsense I am reading from these bloggers.
Notwithstanding, I do not support any kind of violence/killings.
Dude, if he supported the so called “freedom fighters” then he should have been investigated for this.
What you are saying has nothing to do with his execution and the possible involvement of RK and a Govt. Minister.
Dude, Waddel had his own set of issues no doubt but there are many in society today that the PPP are pushing to become more waddels out there with their treatment of blacks in Guyana and by ducking and hiding around this Raja Khan issue.
If the PPP thought that Raja khan was their answer to waddell they have now created probably hundreds more waddels so I am not sure what exactly you are hollering about waddel was this or that.
The bottom line is how different is the PPP today from Waddel? they were both the same 2 extremes at different end of the spectrum all engaged in the same madness.
Why won’t the Guyana government at least lunch an investigation into these allegations? What is going on in that place? we have this type of accusations and evidence to back it up, and the government will not seek to find out whether they are true or not. I mean, the US DEA seems to have already done all the work for them, gathered all the evidence. What is holding the government back. The question must be raised, “ARE THERE TRULY MINISTERS AND BUSINESSMEN INVOLVED, THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PROTECTING?
the silence from the government is deafening. How can they fight crime today, when they are actively covering up a period when these atrocities took place.
Thank you Lucian Observer for a very sensible observation. I am wondering the same thing.
Lucian: ONE BY ONE, ONE BY ONE! Lil’ more patience my friend! Have a blessed one.
Criminals do not fight crime they use the environment to be on top of the Mountain “Numero uno” !
The time of judgement is at hand. Change is coming 2011, to all you doubters. Evil can never conquer good.
Problem is that the police have been investigating the police regarding these murders. No wonder these murders and others remain unsolve
mout open, story jumpin out… day a run till night ketch-am.
The hero in all this might be former commissioner Winston Felix. He was able to force Khan into the hands of reputable law enforcement agencies (Suriname, Trinidad, and the US)
So this may be one reason why Khan recorded and made public Felix telephone conversation. Curious to know the real reason behind Minister Shaw execution.
Re: “The hero in all this might be former commissioner Winston Felix….”
The considered view is that the collective responsible efforts of the no-nonsense Members of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) that forced members of this group on the run. Does not anyone recall the seizure of the “spy equipment” and “guns and ammunition) on the East Coast of Demerara and which were handed over to the Guyana Police Force), these spy equipment and guns and ammunition were later returned to the group without any criminal charges being laid.
Re: “The considered view is that the collective responsible efforts of the no-nonsense Members of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) forced the members of this group on the run. Does not anyone recall the seizure of the “spy equipment” and “guns and ammunition) on the East Coast of Demerara and which were handed over to the Guyana Police Force), these spy equipment and guns and ammunition were later returned to the group ….”
Just to add… “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”!
those equipment were used for a good cause to track and hunt the free-dumb fighters, and the prison escape.
the few remaining freedumb fighters will make head lines in a few days. the terrorist will make head lines.
where are all the so call leaders who want to lead guyana, where are their leader ship for not speaking out of terrorist activities.
THEY ARE ALL INCOMPETENT and muted.
Re: “those equipment were used for a good cause to track and hunt the free-dumb fighters, and the prison escape.
the few remaining freedumb fighters will make head lines in a few days. the terrorist will make head lines….”
Well, if you rendered your legitimate security forces impotent what else do you expect. Thank goodness for good neighborliness that the Venezuelans, the Brazilians respect international law; and, the Surinamese demonstrated their virility when they chased away the Canadians who were prospecting for oil off the Corentyne River. But, time alone will tell now that the Takutu Bridge will soon be open officially. So, let us all wait and see what happens in the long run if a large number of Guyanese do not start speaking Portuguese and if the “equipment” will help then.
Freespeech, you really mean “track and hunt the free-dumb fighters, and the prison escape”, or should it be to eliminate the potential competition then sit on top as Lord of De Crime Syndicate?
I know that you are way too clever to be inferring that the smuggling of drugs and all of its social ills(including executions)is more righteous that the actions of the two groups you mentioned.
Roger Khan is and was never a badman but just a coward who reportedly murder hundreds of people and to carry out his illegal Drug trade.
There is a dancehall song by Vibz Kartel – Last Man Standing that reminds me of Roger Khan. Here is my version
NOT NICE, Roger Khan Not nice…
Ya run like a wounded dawg
Gwan ah foreign and mek he own record,
Don’t run, shortman boy don’t run
Di boy behave like police and ah run like thief
Don’t run, shortman boy don’t run.
Felix and Atherley ah de last man standing
Rifle shot move the Phanton Drug King
Gwan ah america and sing,
Next time nuh come do no damn killing
Felix and Atherley ah de last man standing
A bare big matic Felix an Artherly dem man bring
They nuh coward like ———— and him(RK)
Log on pon Stabroeknews read de thing
Roger Khan embarrass him fans,
Me can’t believe he run with pans
Roger, from 2009 nuh mek nuh more plans
Sing in front of Uncle Sam, time bite ya like mad ants
Why ya behave like policeman for, ya hire poo policeman for war,
But when felix and atherley boys run out inna full camouflage
Napsack full a clip two bloodclaat SLR
Whenn you ah see bare tings,
You run like Usain inna Beijing
That mean you are not the last man standing…
Rewind Pepie Rewind!
There is no justice in Guyana and crimes and criminals such as these are glorified by sections of the society.
Thanks to Mr, Winston Felix the truth can be revealed for the world to see the deep seated nature of crime .
I would laugh if this was not so sad for all Guyanese
What felix has to say is also important. I hope the US calls him to testify.
As for Khan who is not that kind to talk, let’s wait and see.
dawn you are wrong……the correct statement is “the deep seated nature of PPP it was always being said and that is displayed now. The true fact now is that we should be calling for a full investigation in Shaws killing and Fineman sister killing.
We must stand up for something people…..this PPP Government must explain to why? Why? We must reclaim Guyana this land is ours.
yarrow,all what you say is true!
Sing Lord Canary, sing. The president and the minister must answer questioins or resign. But,neither of which we will see. Based on the testimony of the singer, there is no way of convincing me that the highest levels of the government were not aware of, or involved in what was going on. Because of my long absence from Guyana I have avoided taking party sides. But what has reportedly happened over the past several years with the colusion of the PPP government makes what was allegedly done by the Burnham PNC look like childs play.
If there is more in the morter the the likelyhood of a PANAMA happening in Guyana is very real. Uncle Sam may soon be asking for certain big men’s heads. Oh, what a sad day that will be. Mister President convince me, but wait, not me, convince Uncle Sam that you and your ministers were not involved with Roger Khan.
Do you mean a “PANAMA”-like invasion!!!
Gold which fleat was just called into action and where is it located…….let wait and see
All i can say here for now as i preparing for work is RASTAFARI.
Greetings everyone and good morning, i am hoping the Honorable Judge reject the plea agreement and let him go to trial, the people of Guyana need answers. We all know justice should be blind, it must not only be done but appear to be done. I am of the view that the opposition parties, civil society ( providing they are united and not afraid to rock the boat) should be drafting a letter to the Attorney General of the US, State Department and the Judge indicating why they think she should reject the plea agreement. Fellow blogers anyone is welcome to disagree with what i have said or add to what i have so stated. Have a good day everyone.
Hold on nah I, wait till ya hear mo…these people story dutty BAD!!!!!
one name is that you waiting for, and that was not the name every one was calling for.
dont forget once the cat taste milk they will be back for more,
and remember he is not immune to guyana prosecution.
he has confessed to crimes and that can be used in the guyana court system, no is the time to issue a interpol arrest warrant and let us see who will be protecting a criminal or better yet exchange for a drug dealer.
let us sing sing sing
Yeah! we need lots of answers
Who burn down MoH and why?
Who stole 30+ AKs and why?
Who set up the 02 jail break?
Who killed Minister Sawh?
and more…
You may want to do some reading freespeech and understand how interpol works.
You have listened to too much of Jagdeo you are gonna believe anything he says.
well well well, they all try to bring down the ambassador to india now their attention has turned to another who is showing so much progress.
talking to someone or meeting someone is no evidence of wrong doing, whoever he plan with to haul this man’s name into the mud will not work, good luck to the critics,
critics? what critics, a witness to the whole roger khan epesode is singing his head off freespeech, you’r only clutching at straws right now.
freespeach:
U know about the saying “show me your friends and I tell you who you are” right? Now answer me this a cup of snow clear up a bucket of mud?
What he did preach to RK to change his way? This ostrage like behavior by supporters of this regime is appalling.
Straws hahahahah freespeech is a waste of time, when the birds done singing him and his poo poo poo will dry up and blow away in the wind like dog #$%^@#$%^#$%
Feespeech —- DENIAL, DENIAL AND MORE DENIAL would not change the reality.I observe, however, that neither soldier nor you need to return to Cuba in a hurry for propaganda 101.