The restriction on visitation endured by the family of the Bethel Chimezie, the perpetrator of the attack outside State House is “not acceptable” and President of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), Mike McCormack said that the police should justify under what legal circumstance he is being kept incommunicado.
“…….The fact of him being held incommunicado for more than four weeks is not acceptable and he should have access to a lawyer…..Under the normal legal process, he should have access to the courts,” McCormack told Stabroek News during a telephone interview yesterday.
Noting that a complaint was not filed at the GHRA, McCormack said that the “normal humanitarian considerations” would require that Chimezie’s family be allowed to visit him.
As such, he said in light of the present situation, the police should provide an explanation about the legal circumstances under which Chimezie is being detained.
“In light of the length of time of being incommunicado detention, the least that could be expected is that the police justify their actions by reference to whatever legal cover they believe justify their action and if there is no exception to these rules then legally, the family should be allowed to visit him,” McCormack explained.
Chimezie’s wife, who wishes not to be named had told Stabroek News in a previous interview that she has been unable to see or speak to him since the incident on December 15, 2022 and she wants answers from the authorities on her husband’s health.
She said she even tried to obtain legal representation for Chimezie but that too was denied.
When she went to the hospital earlier this month, the woman had told this newspaper that she even pleaded with the security guard to see her husband or even update her on his present condition but was told that the staff at the hospital are under “strict” instructions not to divulge any information about Chimezie.
She also met with Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken who she said told her “due to the magnitude of the situation that is why it is being handled like this”.
“I am still unable to see my husband or carry anything at all for him whether it’s clothes, food or even a skin ointment. Nothing. They are still not letting me know about his health,” the woman yesterday told Stabroek News.
“I can’t know if his eyes open self. What happen to his rights? Is he an animal? Does he not have family that is worried about him? That cares for his health and well-being?” she questioned.
Asked about the situation yesterday, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn told Stabroek News that the police have “good reasons” as to why Chimezie’s family is being restricted from visiting him.
“This is a very sensitive matter and I am not going to go into any further details. The police have their reasons and there are good reasons and I am not going to say what they are,” he said.
Benn said that the matter is being “sorted out” and Chimezie’s family should be allowed to visit him soon. “We are sorting that one out,” he said.
Demanded
Chimezie, a Nigerian national was shot and injured during the attack he launched outside of State House around 7.30 am on December 15 at the Carmichael Street entrance.
Before he was wounded, Chimezie demanded to see President Irfaan Ali, stabbed Presidential guard, Telon Perreira five times and seized a gun from another guard. He then engaged in a shootout with guards.
This newspaper was informed that Chimezie showed up at State House and confronted Perreira, who was among the ranks on duty at the guard hut. He reportedly said, “I want the President”.
Chimezie then went into a pouch, which he had in his possession, and whipped out a knife that he used to launch the attack on Perreira.
Information reaching this newspaper revealed that Perreira then held onto Chimezie’s hand and the knife and a female rank who was present tried to assist him. This caused the Nigerian to turn his attention to the female rank and he grabbed her firearm. Chimezie then used the weapon and started to shoot indiscriminately. Other ranks who were in the area returned fire, injuring him.
Since then, both Chimezie and Perreira have remained hospitalised and the authorities have been silent about the state of the investigation.
Asked about the investigation on Tuesday, President Ali told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference that the police have to “do what they have to do”.
“I don’t get to the police investigation. Let them investigate and let them do what they have to do,” Ali said.
“….A man came here, I don’t know what his intent was, that is for the law enforcers to do but stab one of my guards, trying to force himself into State House and then discharging rounds, that is of serious concern”, he added.
Chimezie’s wife, who spent two days in custody after the incident, had told this newspaper that she met him in April, 2020 and they lived together for a while before they got married just over a year ago. The couple has been renting an apartment at Industry. The apartment was searched by the police during the initial stage of the investigation.
The woman explained to this newspaper that on the night before the incident, Chimezie returned earlier than usual from work and told her that he wasn’t feeling well. The following morning, she said they left home together. She was going to work and he was going to the hospital for a checkup.
The said day, the woman who works at a city hospital said she had to work out of town so she didn’t hear from Chimezie for the day. Later the same day, she said she returned to work and was summoned by her employer.
The police were present at her workplace and she was taken into custody during which she learnt what had happened.
