Dataram sues magistrate, AG for $2M

Oct 24, 2008 News

– claims unlawful detention

Attorneys for Barry Dataram, Vic Puran and Glenn Hanoman, yesterday filed an injunction against Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton and Attorney General Doodnauth Singh, for the unlawful detention of their client.
The writ states that the Magistrate and the Attorney General are commanded to respond within 10 days.

Barry Dataram’s attorneys are claiming damages in excess of $1M from each of the defendants for false imprisonment.

They are alleging that Attorney General Doodnauth Singh committed their client from December 14, 2007 to December 21, 2007.

The other claim for the false imprisonment is based on a decision by Magistrate Octive-Hamilton, on October 9, 2008 and continuing.

This action comes after weeks of deliberations about the unlawful detention of Barry Dataram.
Lead attorney Vic Puran had noted that the provisional warrant which was ordered for the accused was “null and void” and that the Magistrate should not have being misled by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Barry Dataram was held earlier this year by local police on a provisional warrant of arrest, pending extradition proceedings, which were requested by the United States of America. Reports had stated that Dataram was wanted in the US for drug related charges.

The prosecution had solely based their case on the fact that Dataram had breached a court order, which states that he had to report to the police station every Monday and Friday as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene.

However, his defense lawyers are claiming that they received no such direction by the Commissioner.
Attorney Vic Puran noted that even if a provisional warrant was ordered, the court is bonded by the law to provide each citizen with fairness.

The lawyer was adamant that the “devil” is given a fair trial and questioned why Dataram was treated “unjustly”.

The lawyer noted yesterday that his client has been a subject of an innumerable violation to human rights by the Guyana Police Force and also the entire judicial system.

Barry Dataram has being in custody since October 4, when he was arrested by members of the Guyana Police Force at Patentia, West bank Demerara.

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