CoI into alleged plot against President to start tomorrow

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into an alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger is schedule to commence tomorrow and retired Chief Justice Ian Chang will be representing the interests of the Guyana Police Force, a source said.

One month ago, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan had said that the difficulties encountered during the investigation of the alleged plot has led the country’s leader to order a CoI into the matter.

The CoI will be chaired by Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe who was sworn in last Wednesday by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The hearing will be held at the Department of the Public Service, Waterloo Street from 9am.

The findings and recommendations from the CoI are expected to be submitted to the president on or before August 18, 2017.

Back in April of this year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had announced that the police were probing a report of a plot against the President.

Harmon was questioned about the alleged plot after the HGPTV newscast reported on an interview with a man who claimed that a businessman had solicited his services in assassinating the president.

A reliable source had told Stabroek News that despite several efforts, the police were unable to hold a planned confrontation owing to the reluctance of a witness to come forward.

A previous confrontation was held with the complainant, who, initially, was also hesitant to cooperate, the source added.

The police had held a confrontation between the man who made the report of the plot and another who he said could verify his story.

A well-placed source had disclosed that the purported witness told the police that the complainant approached him after making a report to the police of the alleged plot to assassinate the president, and asked him if he could support his story by going to the police and giving a statement saying that he was present when a businessman offered the complainant money to assassinate the President. Further, the purported witness stated that the complainant offered him money in exchange for him supporting the complainant’s report.