A Crabwood Creek farmer who admitted that he made death threats against Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jadgeo and former President Donald Ramotar along with other members of the PPP on Facebook, was yesterday fined $75,000 for the offence.
Tameshwar Beekham, 39, of Lot 6 Grant 1804 Crabwood Creek, Berbice, pleaded guilty to a charge which read that during the month of May, he threatened to murder by way of writing on Facebook Jagdeo, Ramotar, Clement Rohee and Roger Luncheon. Beekham, who was unrepresented by counsel, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Police prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that Beekham said he is a political activist. According to Jones, the farmer used his cell phone to make several comments which he posted on social media. In his posts, Beekham threatened to murder former presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar, as well as Rohee, Luncheon and several other PPP/C supporters.
According to the prosecutor, the virtual complainants filed complaints with the police and, as such, an investigation into the matter was launched. Following the investigations, Beekham was arrested and cautioned by the police to whom he later made a confession. Jones further explained that the defendant was taken to Dr Bhiro Harry, a psychiatrist at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
He said the doctor later reported to police that Beekham was of sound mind and had no mental health issues.
Jones also told the court that the farmer was charged in 2005 for fraud.
When Beekham was given a chance to speak, he told the court that he was simply making a claim in support of the coalition government on Facebook when he was attacked by members of the opposition.
He said he was also praising the work of the late former president LFS Burnham and he was just speaking the truth when PPP/C supporters severely attacked him with ridiculous and threatening comments.
According to Beekham, he was not strong enough to handle their comments which led him to reply unfavourably to them. Beekham apologised to the magistrate and said he did it because of ignorance.
The Chief Magistrate then fined the man $75,000 with an alternative of six months in prison if he defaults on paying the fine.
