A representative of the United States embassy on Tuesday interviewed Barry Datram, the Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara businessman after what police say is the drug-related kidnapping of his wife and daughter by two Venezuelans, one of whom was shot dead by police last Saturday.
Acting Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene told Stabroek News yesterday that the force did receive a request from the US embassy to interview Datram whom the mission said was a citizen of the US. However, Greene said Datram has denied being a citizen of that country. Greene could not confirm whether the interview was done only saying that it more than likely would have taken place. Stabroek News was told that Datram who operates a farm in the Cuyuni area is a naturalized citizen of the US. He however has not visited the country for several years now.
Police had arrested him on Sunday following the abduction of his family and since then he has not been released. Yesterday the businessman’s lawyer, Vic Puran moved to the High Court with a writ of habeas corpus calling on the Commissioner of Police to produce Datram but the police asked for another day to conclude their investigations and this was granted. The matter will come up for hearing again today.
In an affidavit in support of the habeas corpus motion, Sheleza Datram, wife of Barry Datram said that around 2:15 on Saturday morning, her husband came home and as she was opening the door to let him in, gunmen pushed the door and followed him. She made no mention of what preceded the kidnapping, but said that she and her daughter were taken and her husband was left bound. The woman mentioned too that they were taken to Grant Stelling, Hope Lower Pomeroon River. Sheleza said that they were then taken to a gas station, adding that the owner of the gas station saw them and noticed that they were uncomfortable. The woman said that her husband was able to unshackle himself and escaped with the assistance of members of the Guyana Police Force. She said she was sent home, but her husband was taken into police custody at Eve Leary along with the owner of the gas station.
The woman said that she has since retained Puran as her attorney and he advised her that on Monday he visited Barry at Eve Leary and was denied access to him. She said that her husband was seated in a position from which he heard when Puran requested to see him and was denied. Sheleza said that she was advised by her attorney that the continued detention by the police of her husband without bringing him before a magistrate is unlawful and in breach of his fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.
In a gun battle between the police and the kidnappers hours after the woman and her daughter were taken hostage, Raul Antonio Munoz Centeno was shot and killed while another national of the South American country, Jesus Oliva Ortega Manriquez was captured. Police are looking for a third suspect also believed to be a Venezuelan.
Stabroek News was told that efforts are still being made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown to make contact with Caracas so that the dead man could be positively identified.
Police said that documents found on him bore the name that was released. Stabroek News was told that the man had been seen in Guyana before and he apparently knew Barry Datram.
In a statement on Sunday police said that the entire episode is believed to be linked to drugs. “Police are of the view that this incident is drug-related as one of the men involved is identified as being involved in drug-related activities,” the police statement said.
Police said in their statement that at about 12 pm on Saturday Barry Datram reported to them that around 2 am the said day as he was about to enter his home two masked men armed with a rifle and a handgun held him at gunpoint and forced him into the building. The two armed men tied him up and allegedly demanded cash and jewellery and his wife handed over US$16,000, $800,000 and jewellery to the value of $40,000. The men then took Sheleza and their three-year-old daughter and escaped in his motor car after telling him that they will call him later for more money.
