Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 12, 2009 News
The five men accused of kidnapping a prominent Mahaicony rice farmer and a pump attendant were charged with two counts of kidnapping and have been remanded to prison until September 14.
Appearing before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, the five, 49-year-old Roger Persaud called ‘One Hand’, Denwick Booker also known as Gary Booker, 29, Michael Payne, 35, Suresh Hardowar, called ‘Boyo’, 23, and Dwayne Johnson also known as Dwayne King, 18, all of Haslington on the East Coast of Demerara, were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.
The men were represented by Attorney James Bond.
In requesting that reasonable bail be granted, Bond stated that the men were severely beaten by the police. He suggested that the magistrate use her discretion in granting bail, something that she is allowed to do, according to Bond.
He said his clients pose no flight risk and can present themselves to the police at anytime. The Prosecutor objected to bail and noted the serious nature of the offence. He cited Section Nine of the Kidnapping Act that states the charge to be a non-bailable offence. The prosecutor said he was unaware of the men being beaten by the police and told the court that Dwayne Johnson was handed over to the police by public-spirited citizens who may have inflicted his injuries.
The Magistrate denied bail and transferred the matter to the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.
In light of the alleged beatings the men received by the police, the men’s attorney requested that his clients receive urgent medical attention. The magistrate told the attorney that such a decision should be made by medical personnel at the prison.
The five shabbily-dressed men appeared in court under heavy security and to a packed courtroom.
It is alleged that on September 9, the five men kidnapped Mahaicony rice farmer, Parsram Ramnarace and Patrick Skeete. The men had demanded $12M for Ramnarace’s release. A call was made to the rice farmer’s brother who notified the police. Police ranks responded quickly and swooped down on the farm that Ramnarace was being held. Two of the men, Roger Persaud called ‘One Hand’ and Suresh Hardowar, were arrested.
Following their arrest, in the Letter ‘T’ Estate, Mahaicony/Abary backlands, East Coast Demerara, police were able to round up the three remaining suspects between Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning.
One of the men was held by villagers with a bag of wet clothes, hours after two of his accomplices were captured.
He was handed over to the police after reportedly receiving a sound thrashing.
Police in a press release had stated that at about 01:00h Thursday, ranks in the ‘C’ Division, East Coast Demerara, arrested the remaining two suspects on the Mahaicony Public Road.
Reports reaching Kaieteur News had indicated that the kidnappers snatched attendant Patrick Skeete around 03:00 hours, as he was guarding a pump in the rice field located in the upper Abary Creek. They tied him up and waited, knowing Ramnarace would have arrived at daybreak. The drama then unfolded.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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