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Hinckson pleads for bail from ‘solitary confinement’

-case set for Friday

Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday heard the state’s case against ex-army officer Oliver Hinckson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and the accused again appealed for bail citing health concerns from being in a confined cell.

The case was being heard before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys who was absent from the bench due to police investigations into his shooting at a police officer.

Specially-appointed prosecutor, attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin told the court that the firearm case against Hinckson had concluded while his other case had been about 30% complete. At this point Hinckson, whose attorneys were absent, told the court that his sedition case had not yet started.

In response Datadin said much of the evidence led in one matter is the same for the other matters. “We have not started to lead evidence in the sedition matter,” he said, “however, most of the evidence already led in the other matters will also be used in the sedition case,” he explained.

Hinckson told the court that he has been “locked down in solitary confinement, incommunicado, in a strong cell which is located down by the dungeons” since last Friday. He explained that he is being kept in the cell for 23 ½ hours each day and has only seen the sunlight once in the last six days. Hinckson also told the court that if someone is kept in such confined conditions, “incommunicado”, then it is a crime. Further, he asked that the magistrate use her discretion and grant him bail. He told the court that he has existing health problems and in the said confined cell the chances of him contracting tuberculosis are great.

Hinckson said he informed one of his defence attorneys Gregory Gaskin, who visited him at the prison on Saturday, of the conditions he is being kept in but he is not certain that Gaskin is addressing the matter. In response, Datadin said that he has heard nothing about Hinckson being confined in a strong cell. He said he has spoken to no one in authority who has given him a reason why Hinckson might be confined, if he is indeed confined. Further, he said he believes that Gaskin is fit to handle the situation.

“My relatives and friends have been harassed,” Hinckson said, his voice ringing clearly through the court. He said his friend of over 35 years, Augustus Stuart who was charged with possession of an AK-47 magazine and 19 7.6×39 ammunition without lawful authority has been continuously harassed by the police.

Datadin requested that the court set a date for report. Principal Magistrate Robertson-Ogle inquired if July 11 would be “okay” with them. Datadin agreed and the matter was adjourned to next Friday. Hinckson then interjected, “Okay? I am locked down in solitary. How can it be okay?”

Hinckson was charged on March 11 for advocating the commission of a terrorist act and uttering seditious statements. The second charge stemmed from a statement he made during a press conference at City Hall.

He then appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before the principal magistrate and since his incarceration his lawyers have been using different avenues to fight for bail but without success.

The case has been continuously stalled after Prosecutor Robert Tyndall repeatedly requested adjournments to seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. On May 2 Datadin was appointed special prosecutor.

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22 Responses to “Hinckson pleads for bail from ‘solitary confinement’”

caligula
on July 5th, 2008 6:12 am

Shades of Guantanamo?

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:13 am:
NO shades of ARNOLD RAMPERSAUD!

[Reply to this]
motherofmine
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 2:54 pm:
you got t be old school if you know of arnold rampersaud
Raj
on July 5th, 2008 10:15 am

This is ridiculous. The government is doing to Hinckson what they did to Benschop- jailing him for a crime he did not commit

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:12 am:
Justice is blind the govt is deaf and the people are hoarse!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply to this]
ankoko
on July 5th, 2008 10:29 am

Why is a remand prisoner in solitary, lockdown or whatever it is?
Where is the right to a speedy trial seing no bail is being granted?
Justice Delayed = Justice Denied.
Maybe a Presidential pardon is in the future?
Or is there information that hasn’t been made public yet?

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:15 am:
dont pretend u never lived in Guyana.This practice existed since 1964

[Reply to this]
La vie est bonne!
on July 5th, 2008 10:59 am

In Guyana one is guility by association and are tried and convicted by the PPP regime. Certain people are guilty before they even had a trial.

Certain people are not allowed to have a fair and speedy trial.

This regime micro-manages every aspect of the country.

I wonder when Jagdeo will come forward and say Hickson has learned his lesson!!!

Does this ring a bell with anyone???

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:03 am:
shades of The KABAKA regime!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply to this]
Roula
on July 5th, 2008 11:55 am

Another painful situation!

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:20 am:
pain is a blessing in disguise!!

[Reply to this]
Williebee
on July 5th, 2008 1:13 pm

I do not condone violence nor crime, yet I am astonished that that Oliver Hinckson has been denied bail for so long.
Justice is supposed to be blind but apparently in Guyana-she has 20/20 vision.
Drug pushers and people wanted by the DEA in USA were allowed bail.
Case in point-Baburam who was arrested and bailed several times before he disappeared.
The case against one that was out on bail was never concluded as he was murdered.
The world is watching you Guyan.WE ,Guyanese abroad are watching you and wondering if it is time to sell all our assets there.
If the Rule of Law continues to be trampled on we will have to retink our position as Guyanese who have contributed so much there.

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:18 am:
That is among the reason we have decided to live in these parts.

[Reply to this]
motherofmine
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 3:05 pm:
he came forward to offer his assistance in the fineman situation and got himself involved, thats why people with info in guyana dont come forward , as a result lots of crime remain unsolved.

another thing is that we have some police who have been trained for 4 0r 6 weeks and are now officers by way of promotion most of them are at CID HQ what ever happened to the 6 months program.

the are clueless and locking up people on feelings rather that evidenve

[Reply to this]
motherofmine
on July 5th, 2008 5:02 pm

SINCE THE LATE 70′S WHEN OLIVER WROTE AND WON THE 1ST PLACE FOR HIS BOOK (THE ENEMY WITHIN) PUBLISHED BY CASA DE AMERICANS. HE BECAME A TARGET FOR ALL GOVERNMENTS.

FURTHER ANY GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY IS AFRAID OF MEN WHO GRADUATED FROM SANDHURST MILITARY ACADEMY, ALL THE SANDHURST MEN HAVE AT SOMETIME BEEN FIRED FROM THE MILITARY OR PLACED BEFORE THE COURTS

IF THIS MAN WANTED TO DO HARM HE WOULD HAVE DONE SO LONG AGO, WHEN DR JAGAN HAD SAID APEN JAT BACK IN THE 60′S HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED BEFORE THE COURTS , LOOK WHAT THAT STATEMENT HAS CAUSED WE AS A PEOPLE HAVE NEVER RECOVERED FROM THAT

THIS IS THE REASON I WOULD NOT EVER RETURN TO GUYANA, I WOULD EITHER BE THE PRESIDENT OR BE KILLED, I COULD NOT LIVE UNDER THE RULE OF THE PPP OR THE PNC

[Reply to this]
kabaka
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 12:10 am:
You are better off under George W.LIve and sing his conquests in the good ol usa

[Reply to this]
motherofmine
In reply to the above comment on July 6th, 2008 3:00 pm:
the sad thing here is that Burnham had accused oliver of being a PPP and had him on a watch list
gtagricola
on July 5th, 2008 10:02 pm

My prayers goes out to Oliver and hope they release him

[Reply to this]
rhythm
on July 7th, 2008 2:02 am

if you are guilty you need to face the justice system and if you are not you will be freed. Before one is sent to the dark he or she must be doing some thing beyond normal in Jail. these guys go to jail and try to run things in the jail. Hinckson is in jail for crimes that he is suspected to be in, and not guilty until proven.

[Reply to this]
GOPIE
on July 7th, 2008 4:25 am

REMEMBER WHAT BURNHAM DID TO IVAN SOOKRAN?……….POOR FELOW HE HAD TO FLEE FOR HIS LIFE WHEN HE WAS FREED

[Reply to this]
La vie est bonne!
In reply to the above comment on July 8th, 2008 8:49 pm:
You are forever living in the past. Why does present wrong doings of this dictatorship not appear to be the slightest worry to you? The audacity stinks to sky high. Yet you continue to live in a true democracy.

[Reply to this]
mabar55
on July 7th, 2008 7:54 pm

Come on Mr. police what goes around comes around .
What has this man done ,offer help to the police and they lock him up ,,,shame .
Look stop wasting tax payer money. go get the real bad guys .
Why lock up the people who can help you. I thing that the police should get all those old uniform top bass and put the to work solving crime

[Reply to this]