Social activist Mark Benschop was yesterday placed before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer the charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting a police officer.
The allegation is that on October 29 at Georgetown, Benschop, 37, of 183 Roxanne Burnham Gardens assaulted Police Constable 14863 Neville Jeffers, who was acting in the execution of his duty.
Mark Benschop
On the same day also, Benschop is alleged to have resisted Constable Jeffers, who was executing of his duties.
Benschop pleaded not guilty to both charges and was subsequently released on self bail.
Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes who represented Benschop in association with Kenita Cumberbatch told the court that they are prepared to vigorously contest the charges for which the defendant stands accused.
According to Hughes, the Justice of the Peace (JP) who signed the warrant for searches to be conducted at Benschop’s residence, later said publicly that he would not have signed the document if the volume of information made available to him subsequent to signing the warrant had been in his possession before.
“My worship, the JP clearly stated on national television that if he knew before signing the document all the things he learnt subsequent to signing about the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), then he would not have signed it in the first place,” the attorney argued.
Hughes added that the warrant had no name to whom it was addressed, nor did it have an address.
Stating that this is the third time his client has been “victimized for purely politically reasons,” Hughes then requested a date for trial, making an application that his client be sent on his own recognizance on the grounds that he poses no risk of flight, has a fixed place of abode and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.
When given a chance to respond, the virtual complainant (VC), Police Constable Jeffers told the court that on the day in question, the accused was pushing him away from conducting searches on his (Benschop’s) premises.
The VC said he told the accused of the offence committed, cautioned him and then made an arrest.
The prosecution told the court that the defendant is not a first time offender and though not objecting to the bail application made by the defence attorney, requested that Benschop be placed on substantial bail.
Hughes was successful in obtaining bail for his client and the father of one was subsequently granted self-bail and ordered to return to Court Three on November 12.
Pandemonium reigned on Thursday last when officials from the NFMU swooped on the South Georgetown residence of Benschop, seizing what they said was an illegal wireless transmitter shortly after he was arrested for obstructing the police. The NFMU said in a statement that “… acting pursuant to the provisions of the Post and Telegraph Act [it had], seized a wireless telegraphy apparatus (FM Radio transmitter) that was being operated in contravention of the law. This transmitter was being operated from a premises located in the Roxanne Burnham Gardens area.”
WASTE OF COURTS TIME….NEXT!!!!!!!
When will this persecution end?
They let he out ? This is a serious offence and should be non-bailable…
Sandman the police have been a tool that this govt use to silence dissent. The magistrate’s name was left out for this report that tell’s you something about the judicial system in this country. The magistrate may be worried about pension and benefits issues but in the end regardless of that the magistrate did what was right.
Run from bullets.
REDDY SHOULD MIND HIS OWN DAMMMMMM BUSINESSSS. DEMMMMMMMMM.
Mark Benschop’s rights have been clearly violated. The search will be found to be illegal since the warrant never gave the joker and the pack of jokers any permission to search his premises. Mark should turn back and sue Singh and company.
This is no doubt another item the joint opposition gets to put in their dossier to submit to the revelant international bodies to prove Human Rights Violations under this Burnham Jagdeo’s Administration Ooops, I meant to say Bharat. I got confused with the similarity in the authocratic arrogance.
1992 brought Guyana full circle back to an undemocratic dictatorship-racially supported constituent. It seems Guyana made one step forward, two steps backwards.
The fight for democracy in Guyana continues…
This is persecution,and trespass by the police,and and the N.F.M.U official.The J.P.should not have signed the search warrant,if the name and address were not inserted.P.C. Jeffers was used.Only a layman’s view.Still no charges from the N.F.M.U.
Fear!
Fear is what motivated the Justice Of the Peace to sign the warrant without first ensuring that all pertinent information was attached for his perusal. Fear of reprisal from the PPP government.
Such a high profile search required the signature of a learned sitting Judge. However, the PPP ran the risk of having the warrant denied if that route was taken. That is why they used fear to coerce and bully a lower lever Justice of the Peace to do their bidding.
Fear!
Bismattie, I think that you’ve nailed it accurately this time and further, this Justice of the Peace here doesn’t have a clue about the noble standards of the INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY… This is paramountcy running wild…
again you nail them bismattie good job, but now the jp have
to watch his back for talking out on national tv.
1. The JP should be sued or some legal action taken against him. I am not concern whether he was fearful or not. He took an oaths to uphold the law and he did otherwise.
2. Only sitting Judges and Magistrates should sign Warrants.
You right again Bismattie. The JP seems to be a hustler,
he was only concern about De Lil raise he was getting and
to hell with Mark name and address.
Raj, great comments here! I applaud you on them. I would like to share a Holocaust poem with the rest of the nation here, which I think speaks to the heart of your post.
They came for the Communists, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Jew;
Then they came for me – And there was no one left to object.
- Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Pastor, 1892-1984
Mark Benschop, don’t give up the fight. They cannot kept a good man down. Your cause is noble and you will be rewarded. Guyana needs more Benschop, Lewis, Witter, Kissoon and CN Sharma. Your belief in justice will pay off.
They will look for any thing to thrown the book at you knowing full well all you are fighting for justice. They will continue to get away with it if the media, churches and pre-1992 militants continue their silence, selective coverage and turning a blind eye. Or when it affects them personally but by then their will be no one to fight for them.
Raj
Do you know anything of this man to say his cause is a noble one.When this guy and a few others(including Waddell) were poluting the airwaves with ‘violence’,where were you?
Storming the OP was a noble act too..ehhh.
witch you wasn’t even in guyana when the op was stormed, so shut yuh trap.
okkkkkkkk! parrot witch dr, you wrong. benchop was accused of insiting and treason.
Witch you are on the money but there is a difference between the benschop of that era and what this guy is doing now.
I think it is important to distinguish between the two events.
What Benschop is doing now and advocating now is not really laced with the incindiary language used in those days back in 2001. It is extremely important to note that change. Else you would not be honest with yourself.
Witch Dr., do you anything of this man to say his cause is not noble?
Amen-ra I am waiting on your reply others would like to know what’s up brother.
We all know that these are trumped up charges. Those who are living here in the TRI-STATE area need to email Amen-ra at bushman22001@yahoo.com and let’s PLAN and ORGANIZE a PROTEST Rally at One UN PLAZA on 1st ave NY NY Wednesday morning around 9 or 10 am or any other convenient time.
for at least an hour.
We need to send a message to the International community about the torturing of the young boy and other important problems people are facing in Guyana.
IT IS TIME TO PUT UP! AND SHUT UP! “DON’T TALK THE TALK, IF YOU CAN’T WALK THE WALK!” SADDLE UP AND GET YOUR PLACARDS OR BANNERS AND LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER FOR THE UNFORTUNATE YOUNGER ONES IN GUYANA.
Brandon,check out the role of a social activist.
To encourage community people to take self-determined actions(without political affiliation) , and
To avoid harassment and obstruction by the more powerful who may feel threatened.
Is this the Benschop you see?
Witch you chaps are ready to condemn people quickly but on the same hand you never can issue the same level condemnations against the PPP and their abuses.
So before you lecture me replay the tape to yourself.
Come to my house with false documents and trying to set me up again, hell yeah I would push you away. When I saw the officer I saw a man torn between doing the right things(in respect to what was happening) and doing the wrong thing(dealing with something intentionally planned. Does anyone in Guyana have any balls to do the right thing.
And to think that the Commissioner is a lawyer!
These tactics employed by the political directorate sickens my stomach. I will continue my quest with greater resolve to let people know who and what they are.I hope none of them are planning to visit the Bahamas soon. They will surely get a not too welcome reception. It is time the directors and perpetrators of carefully crafted acts of MAYHEM AND MURDER be made to suffer the consequences of their actions. THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL!
I am trying to figure out the real motive of bencok.this guy not making the laws of guyana look like a comic book.The law needs to be enforce on these so call social activist.they are calling they selves social activist(just trouble makers).If he really wants to do something decent along with frddie…..they can start a revolution on:
stop teenage pregnancy
drug users
alcohol abusers
domestic abuse
thieves
litter bugs
and you may add on………call for the church to help society,and stop out of wedlock….children..they need mother and father…….let’s try………
Why don’t you look in the mirror and start with yourself, than being in canada and talking crap this early morning, and plus benschop has a foundation that is helping all guyanese to find job and better themselves.
I thought he was walking free Amen,,,There is still the possession of illegal equipment charge to be brough against him…Most of you are claiming that the Government is after this law breaker but it is the other way around and you people are condoning his attitude,,,
Jam,
None of what you say include Corruption in Government, Drug barons the like of Roger Khan, Phantom members, torture, criminal acts by government agencies, Silence by Ministers when crimes are committed against our children unless the images ends up on the cover of the daily, etc. Thats what these social activist are move against, the real and big problems. Those that you highlighted can be tactle by you because you don’t have the balls to deal with the real issues that affects us all.
Amen-ra stop with that look in the mirror thing and respond to my email message.
This same dude will be the down-fall of the ppp
As long Mark is not doing any thing that is wrong please leave him he his trying to do good for his COUNTRY . MUCH MOE THAN WHAT THE GOV IS DOING WRIGHT NOW>
Persecution,Persecution,Persecution!!!Greene’s view about this matter,speaks volumes.
Freddie Disoon whe yuh deh?
Go tel dem wat yuh c wen yuh went an visit dis innocent banas at de lock down…
tel dem ow yuh c e sleepin pon de bear kaankreet floor..
duh is torture to…..
ee bannas why you don’t get a life ? why you don’t do something
constructive for canada like migrating, you only there babling and babling alot of nonsense everyday taking up
valuable space in canada ….
turbo
yuh wan meh fuh get a life?
like yours?
nahhhhh meh passssss!!!!!!!!
yuh ah duh de same ting yuh seh meh ah duh hey suh….
yuh ah babble babble babble and den sum mo babble….
yuh shud get a real like an stap taking up valuable space in ah Amerika an migrate….