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.
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.”
