Four years for a father of two who confesses to selling drugs to maintain his kids

The Albouystown resident, Kevin Clarke, confessed that on June 14, 2018, at Lot 135 king Edwards Street, Albouystown he had 184 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
 He was sentenced to four years in prison by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman when he appeared in the Georgetown magistrates’ court today.
The Police acting on information went to Clarke’s home at Lot 135 King Edwards Street, Albouystown and conducted a search. It was during the search that the drugs were found in a haversack which was hidden in a barrel filled with clothing. Clarke was not in the house at the time, but later turned himself over to the police.
The unrepresented man told the court that he was unemployed and was selling the drugs to maintain his kids.
The Magistrate fined Clarke $30,000 along with 4 years in jail.

Three years for taxi driver convicted of intent to engage in sexual activity with underage girl

The sentence was handed down today by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after the on-camera trial ended.
Daniel James, 31, was found guilty of sexually grooming a female relative and was sentenced to 3 years in jail. The charge read that
 between December 12, last, and January 18, he communicated with a child under the age of 16, via WhatsApp, with the intent to engage in sexual activity with her.
There are reports that James allegedly knew that the child was underage and still communicated with her. Further, it is also alleged that on January 18th, James made arrangements to have sex with the teen, but the police intervened and arrested James after being tipped off.
Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-at-Fat represented James in the trial, while Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers prosecuted the case.

Gazetted Officer of the Joint Services in custody following a fatal accident. Dead man found with an unlicensed pistol with four live rounds on him.

Dead is 35yr. old Roopchand Ramkellowan, of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.
The police say their initial investigations revealed that the victim was crossing the road from south to north when he was struck by the motor car, which was proceeding east along the northern carriageway.
The accident occurred at around 22:20hrs last night on the De Willem Public Road, WCD. The Police stated that an accident occurred involving motor car PWW 5680 driven by a 28-year-old Gazetted Officer of the Joint Services, who resides in South Ruimveldt Gardens and pedestrian Roopchand Ramkellowan.
Ramkellowan was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced dead on arrival. According to the Police, an unlicensed pistol with four live rounds was found on his person.
Meanwhile, the driver is in custody assisting with the investigation; a breathalyzer test revealed that his blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit.

 

Police Officer charged with assaulting wife and sister over stolen money

A Corporal in the Guyana Police Force was today released on $150,000 bail after he was slapped with seven charges.

The lawman Rondelle Gouveia, appeared in the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Zamilla Ali-Seepaul where he was charged with unlawfully wounding his reputed wife Candace Young, damaging her cellphone, and use of threatening language against her. He also was charged with assaulting the woman’s sister Alisha Martin to cause actual bodily harm and making use of threatening language. Gouveia was also charged with disorderly behavior at the Turkenyen Police Station. All this happened on June 8.

The incidents stemmed from a child relating to the woman that Gouveia stole money from her bag. Upon checking the woman observed $US100 missing and confronted the man.
An annoyed Gouveia dealt the woman several cuffs and kicks about her body. He then armed himself with a knife and began running the woman.

Young called out to her sister for help. Martin in her attempt to help threw a brick at Gouveia but missed. However, the man, in turn, hit her with an object causing her injuries.

The thirty-five-year-old officer will return to Court on July 9.

A young contractor has been remanded to prison on gun and robbery-related charges

The Eccles, East Bank Demerara man is accused of shooting a Charlestown wash bay owner and robbing him of cash and a cellphone.

 The Court was told that 22-year-old Jermaine Josiah on June 10, discharged a loaded firearm at Leroy Robertson with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was also charged with robbing the man of $27,000, cellular phone valued $19,000 and having a .38 pistol in his possession without being a licensed firearm holder. The

 The unrepresented Josiah denied the charges before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court but was remanded to prison until July 6. The matter was also transferred to Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

A teenager is behind bars for his alleged possession of illegal ammunition and firearm.

Colin Denny, a 17-year-old Charlestown resident appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he denied the charges of possession of a gun and ammunition without being a licensed firearm holder.

 The court was told that the teenager on Wednesday, June 13, he had in his possession an unlicensed .32 pistol and one live matching ammunition.

 Denny through his attorney Keisha Chase told the court that he had no knowledge of the gun and ammunition. 

 However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield in objecting to bail told the court that the firearm and ammunition were found on the teenager during a search by ranks of a mobile patrol.

 Denny was remanded to prison and is expected to return to Court on July 4.

A spiritual leader committed to stand trial in the high court for the alleged rape of a church member. 

Bishop Joseph Persaud will stand trial in the high court for the alleged rape of a church member. 

The incident allegedly took place at the Bishop’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara home. Persaud was released on $350,000 bail during the preliminary inquiry into the matter which was being heard before Magistrate Leron Daly, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Attorney- at- law, Nigel Hughes is representing Persaud while Police Prosecutor Richard Harris led the evidence in the Preliminary Inquiry.

 It is alleged that Persaud during the month of October 2017, invited the woman to his home for ‘counseling’ where he allegedly raped her.

 There are reports that the 22-year-old victim had once shared a relationship with Bishop Persaud but ended it after his wife found out. It is also alleged that even after the relationship ended Persaud kept calling the woman’s phone.

 Reports are that the Bishop after his arrest called the victim, pleading with her to drop the charge. 

 Persaud is the spiritual leader of a church in the Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Trio charged with aiding and abetting and obstruction days after GRA officers were shot at during an anti-smuggling operation

The men appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court this morning. Two of the men were charged with aiding and abetting persons who shot at Guyana Revenue Authority Enforcement Officers and with obstructing the officers from performing their duties, while the third suspect was charged with knowingly dealing with smuggled goods, with the intention to defraud the GRA. The fourth accused was a no-show in court this morning.

Standing before the Magistrate to answer the charges were 25-year-old Stephen Motielal and 19-year-old Trevor Motielal, both men are said to be fishermen, while the third suspect, 35-year-old Ravindra Ramdeo is said to be a driver.

The men were hauled before the court days after GRA officers were shot at while they were executing their duties at Bee Hive, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara on June 7th. Two of the GRA officers were injured during the incident.

Attorney at law Stanley Moore made a bail application for the men and he told the court that the men had no previous convictions.

However, bail was objected to by GRA’s attorney, Jason Moore, on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence, however, he did not object to Ramdeo  being released on bail.

All the men were granted bail with Stephen and Trevor Motielal being placed on  $400,000 dollars each, while  Ramdeo  was placed on $200,000 dollars bail.

The matter was transferred to the Cove and John Magistrates’ Court for June 26th.

Father and son from Kitty remanded for the murder of another Kitty man

 A father and son were today charged with the murder of Kitty youth, Richard Noel. Richard was stabbed in the vicinity of Pizza Hut in the Stabroek market area and succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Today, the indictable charge of murder was read to 55-year-old James McKenzie and his 21-year-old son Timothy McKenzie, when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The murder took place on June 4th and reportedly stemmed from a problem Noel’s sister had with one of the suspects back in January.

Richard Noel, dead man
The men were represented by attorney-at-law Stanley Moore. In the court today Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield disclosed to the court that the police file is still incomplete. The matter was adjourned until June 29th and the men were remanded to prison.
Both of the suspects are from Kitty and were known to the dead man and his family.
Richard had a one-year-old son, who he barely spent time with, because he was in prison according to his family.  Richmond was only released from jail in February.