-lawyer alleges police brutality
Timothy Sampson, who was allegedly arrested with a cache of high-powered weapons including an Uzi semi-automatic rifle, was yesterday arraigned at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court on charges of unlawful possession of firearms and resisting arrest.
Sampson, 25, was refused bail by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo, who transferred the cases to Reliance Court for hearing on October 20. He was charged with being in possession of two AK-47 rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, and an Uzi automatic weapon on September 21, 2010 at Adelphi Village, East Canje, without having the relevant licences in force at the time. He was also charged with being in possession of ammunition without a licence, with it being alleged that he had three live 12-gauge cartridges without having a licence in force at the time. He pleaded not guilty to all the weapons charges.
He was also charged on two indictable counts of resisting arrest, committed on Constables Glawdin James and Darrel Ramsay, both peace officers, who were executing their duties on September 21. He was not required to plead to the indictable charges.
Sampson, who was shackled, displayed a bandaged head and his lawyer Charrandas Persaud said the man’s injuries were sustained from beatings meted out by police officers.
Police Inspector Satrohan Dayaram informed that court that while Sampson was on bail on another matter, he committed the current offence. In addition Dayaram noted that the statutes governing firearm charges are specific and he requested that bail be denied as Sampson may flee the jurisdiction.
In an unsuccessful bail application, Persaud said his client was attacked by the lawmen and he had a right to defend himself. “After he was subdued, he was taken to the Reliance Police Station [and] there he learnt that the men in plain clothes were police men,” Persaud said, while noting that the men had been travelling in an unmarked vehicle and did not produce their identification cards. “My client offered resistance,” he said.
Sampson has had previous brushes with the law and is currently facing another possession of firearm charge over a .32 pistol that was allegedly found in his home, where police had gone as part of a robbery investigation. The matter is currently pending at the Reliance Court, in East Canje.
