The US government has offered details of what was seized from the law office of Roger Khan’s former attorney, Robert Simels last year, saying on Thursday that it had recovered a surveillance device and its operational software, and two laptop computers on which the software had been installed.
It stated in court documents seen by this newspaper that it recovered “among other things” a Smith Myers “CSM 7806” surveillance device, a compact disc containing operational software for this equipment, and two laptop computers on which the operational software had been installed and used to intercept telephone conversations.
The government also confirmed that it will call Mark Barker, President of Smith Meyers. Inc., to testify regarding his company’s 7800 series software and electronic equipment. “We anticipate that Mr. Barker will testify that the design of that software and equipment renders it primarily useful for the surreptitious interception of wire communications”, the US government said in the court document said.
The US government said that law enforcement officers executed the search warrant on September 10, 2008, at the law offices of Khan’s former attorneys Simels and Arienne Irving.
The surveillance equipment had been the subject of discussion here since the US had indicated that it was in their possession, with local authorities insisting the real equipment is still in the country.
It was three months ago that Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said that he is sure the police have some evidence to prove that the surveillance equipment they have in their possession is that which was seized from drug accused Roger Khan.
However, he added, the notion that it could have been switched with another can’t be dispensed with “because apparently there is a piece of equipment that has surfaced as the seized equipment.”
Dr Luncheon, who is also secretary to the Defence Board, had said further that should the equipment be produced in a US court as evidence then prosecutors would have to tell the court that it was indeed the very equipment that was seized from a vehicle in which Khan and others were at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.
