Lawyers for some of the six men released on Saturday after turning themselves in to police, who had issued wanted bulletins for them, yesterday said that their clients are giving the lawmen an opportunity to conduct their investigations before saying anything publicly.
Attorneys Vic Puran and Glenn Hanoman, whose clients include businessmen, Bramanand Nandalall Rambrichie called ‘Bramma’, Clayton Hutson and Salim Juman Azeez, yesterday said that while their clients are very upset with wanted bulletins being issued for them as they saw no basis for such a move, they will await the outcome of the investigation.
And Hanoman, who represents US-wanted man, Barry Dataram said his client has instructed him to institute civil proceedings against the Guyana Police Force for illegal detention. Dataram, for whom a bulletin was not issued, was picked up by two van loads of policemen near his home on Friday night and after spending a night in custody, was released on Saturday. Hanoman said it appears as if his client’s arrest was a “mistake” as he was not questioned by the lawmen and was just placed to sit on a bench. He said that unlike the other men, who were all questioned in relation to ongoing investigations, Dataram was not asked anything and was released on self bail. The lawyer said he enquired from the police the reason for his client’s arrest but none was given.
Dataram has been arrested five times since 2007 on provisional warrants for the purpose of extraditing him to US where he is wanted for alleged cocaine smuggling. None of the cases brought by local police were ever successful. He was last arrested earlier this year.
Under pressure to solve a spate of shocking killings, police last Thursday issued bulletins for Rambrichie; Hutson of Lot 50 New Hope EBD; Mark De Abreu of Lot 66 Broad St, Charlestown; David Charran of Pomeroon, Essequibo; Rodrigues whose last known address was listed as Lot 19 Belvoir Court, Bel Air Village; Lloyd Roberts of Lot 3667 North Ruimveldt; Edwards of Lot 341 North East La Penitence; John De Santos of Lot 66 Adelaide Street, Charlestown and ex-policeman Sean Belfield. Roberts, Rodrigues and Belfield who are known associates of convicted drug lord Roger Khan.
The following day, police issued bulletins for Azeez, a well-known businessman of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara and of Lot 454 Hopkinson Drive, Repub-lic Park; Paul Daby (Snr.), Paul Daby (Jnr.) called ‘Randell’ and Peter Daby, called ‘Spiderman,’ all of 127 D’Aguiar Park, Houston. The senior Daby also has a Lot 41 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme address.
After spending a day and night in custody after turning themselves in, Rambrichie, Azeez, Hutson, Dennis Edwards Jnr, along with Rodrigues and Roberts walked out of police headquarters, Eve Leary at around 6pm on Saturday after being placed on $100,000 bail each.
Another businessman, Royston Penniston, the owner of the Blue Iguana night club, who had turned himself over to the lawmen late Friday evening, hours after a bulletin was issued for him, was released on bail at around 9pm on Saturday night.
The men have been instructed to contact the police today.
Meanwhile, up to last evening, the other men being sought by police were still to turn themselves in and anyone with information that could lead to their arrest is asked to contact police on any of their numbers including 911.
The surprise move to release the men on bail came hours after Acting Chief Justice; Ian Chang had called on the police to show reason why the men should remain in custody before adjourning the matter to today. Stabroek News understands that the decision was taken to release the men after a high level meeting with top police officers and others.
“We are waiting on the police to complete their investigation…” Puran said yesterday.
Puran said while they “sympathise” with the police, the law enforcement agents must conduct better investigations before issuing bulletins for citizens. However, he said, they “detected a different attitude” among the police officers as they are not “arrogant” in conducting their duties but are more professional in their conduct.
“As soon as they realized that our clients had done nothing wrong, they released them,” Puran said adding that they would withdraw the Habeas Corpus proceedings today. The lawyer said they are impressing on the police to conduct better investigations and that “we long for the day when the police will investigate then issue wanted bulletins.”
