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The charges come a week after the men were busted during an operation by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) at Parika. Appearing in the Leonora Magistrates’ court before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool were Khemraj Lall, 39, of Zeelugt EBE; Marlon Lawrence, 36 of Felicity, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Rajendra Persaud, 47 of Liliendaal, ECD; Doodnauth Chattgroon, 36 of Zeelugt and Cleve Thornhill. The five were jointly charged with trafficking 35 Kilograms of cannabis and 13.8 Kilograms of cocaine worth more than $24 million on June 6, 2018, at Parika.

The drugs were found concealed in two blue plastic gas bottles and were intercepted in the trunk of a motor vehicle at Parika Public Road, according to a release from the drug agency.

In the court today all the men except Thornhill denied the charge. Thornhill pleaded guilty to the charge and told the court that he was hired to transport the gas bottles from Charity to Parika in his boat. Upon reaching Parika, the drugs were to be handed over to the occupant of a waiting vehicle at the Parika wharf. The man said he had no knowledge of what was inside the drums.

Attorney Bernard DaSilva representing Lall and Chattgroon told the court that his clients were found seated in a motor car a short distance away from where the drugs were found. 

CANU’s Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford told the court that CANU ranks on June 6, 2018, at Parika, East Bank Essequibo intercepted the five men with the cocaine and cannabis stashed in false bottoms of two 15 gallon gasoline bottles. This was after CANU got a tip-off regarding the shipment of drugs arriving at Parika from Charity in a speedboat.

Sandiford added that CANU officers then went to the Parika location where they intercepted motor vehicles PSS 8019 and PVV 7934. In the motor car, PSS 8019 were Lawrence and Persaud while Thornhill and the other co-accused were in the second vehicle bearing license plate number PVV 7934. 

It was during the search the drug was found and the men arrested. Sandiford objected to the men being released on bail noting the seriousness of the charge. 

Magistrate Liverpool remanded all five of the men to prison until July 3. The magistrate told Thornhill to seek legal advice and report back on next court date.

A Golden Grove East Bank Demerara businessman, Ramanand Jagdeo appeared before Principal Magistrates Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates Court and denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
This charge comes months after a pedal cyclist was killed in an accident along the Peter’s Hall Public Road, East Bank Demerara. He was allegedly killed by a speeding motor car, driven by the 44-year-old businessman.

The court was told that on February 22, 2018, at Peter’s Hall Public Road he drove motor car PRR 4395 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of Alexander Appiah.

Police Prosecutor Arvil Moore told the court that on the day in question at approximately 21:00 hours, Jagdeo was allegedly speeding along the Peter’s Hall Public Road in motor car PRR 4395, when Appiah, a pedal cyclist was riding in the eastern lane.
It is alleged that Jagdeo swerved in front of the pedal cyclist and collided with him.
Due to the force of the impact, the left leg of Appiah was severed from his body. The man was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Police Prosecutor Moore did not object to bail and Magistrate Latchman released Jagdeo on $1M bail. The matter was transferred to the Chief Magistrates courtroom for June 19.

In their absence, former Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and former Chief Executive Officer of  NICIL, Winston Brassington were slapped with additional charges.

The matter was heard before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus where a charge of misconduct in Public Office was read. The Court was told that between October 20, 2010 and December 20, 2010 the two acted recklessly when they sold Queens Atlantic Investment INC the Sanata Textiles Complex which sits on 18.976 acres of land for $697.8 million. The property was valued at $1.04 billion dollars, as such the selling price was grossly undervalued and thereby a breach of their duties.

Stanley Moore, one of the lawyers representing the men, told the court that his clients were not given notices to attend Court by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

SOCU’s lawyer, Lawrence Harris told the court that the matter was filed on June 7 and he requested an adjournment in order for Singh and Brassington to be present to answer to the charges. The matter was adjourned to June 29.

The two are currently on $3 million bail each for charges of a similar nature.

The man, 42-years-old Faron Hercules called “Old Fire” appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he was not required to plea to the indictable offence. The charge was read to Hercules in camera.

Reports are the Hercules who is employed as a jetman, on June 2 allegedly held the child down, removed her undergarments and sucked her breast and neck.

The child related the incident to her mother who in turn reported the matter to the police. Hercules will make his next court appearance on June 12.

As authorities in Guyana and Suriname continue their investigation into the recent pirate attack which left 15 Guyanese fishermen dead or missing, a second man has now been charged locally.

Alexander Denhart called “Shame face” a resident of 79 village Corentyne appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he was not required to plea to the indictable charge of murder. DenHart is said to be an accomplice in the deadly attack.

The Court was told that between April 26 and May 3rd he murdered fisherman Tilacknauth Mohabir called Caiman. Mohabir was on a vessel which DenHart allegedly robbed. The matter has been transferred to the Springlands Magistrates’ Court where DenHart is expected to make his second court appearance on June 13th.

The mastermind behind the attack is said to be Nakool Manohar called “Fyah”, who was charged last week for the murder also.

Manohar was also charged with acts of piracy which he allegedly committed in 2015 and 16.

Twenty fishermen were brutally attacked in the deadly incident which occurred in Suriname, five of the men survived, 4 dead bodies were recovered and 11 bodies are still unaccounted for.

The woman, Shanaz Mohammed, 38-years-old appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate, Magistrate Isaac-Marcus to answer to the charges.

 The Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara woman was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, the sale of alcohol without having a liquor license and escaping lawful custody.

 The court was told that on May 6, she had in her possession 478 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. On the second charge, it was alleged that Mohammed on the same day sold and offered for sale alcohol without having a liquor license. Finally, the court was told that on May 8, Mohammed was taken to the Timehri Police Station for the initial charges but she from police custody. 

 The woman’s Attorney Stanley Moore told the court that his client is the mother of four and that the drugs were not found in her possession.

However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question ranks from the Timehri Police station acting on information went to Mohammed’s home and the drugs were found in a black plastic bag hidden behind a freezer in the living room.

Mansfield said too that during the search ranks noticed a quantity liquor in the woman’s living room and inquired if she had a license to the sell of the alcohol. Mohammed was remanded to prison by Magistrate Isaac-Marcus on the drug trafficking charge and escaping from police custody but granted $70,000 bail for selling alcohol without a license. She will make her next court appearance on June 19.