Two more persons accused in the January 18 cocaine bust aboard the MV Bismarck 2 were yesterday remanded to prison after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The allegation against Vishnu Sukhlall is that on January 18 onboard MV Bismarck 2, in the Demerara River, he had in his possession 27.230 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Meanwhile, on the same day at Houston, East Bank Demerara, Shazim Deen is accused of having in his possession 27.230 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Both men denied the charges when they were read to them by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Attorney Vic Puran, prosecuting for CANU, in his address to the court requested an early date for the commencement of the trial.
According to Puran, the defendant Sukhlall and witnesses have been cooperating with the prosecution.
He said the prosecution wanted to protect the integrity of such cooperation, therefore, he was seeking an early commencement date.
Puran emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the witnesses and the need for an early adjournment date on which to commence trial into the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Attorney-at-law Euclin Gomes who is representing Sukhlall said that he will be advancing certain plea bargaining applications on behalf of his client during the trial.
Sukhlall, a security guard, is a father of three and resides at 256 Fourth Street, Montrose.
Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat who represented Deen said that her client complained to her of being beaten by CANU ranks and requested that he be sent for medical examination after leaving court.
Puran pressed for Rahamat to provide the court with information regarding by whom, where and when her client was beaten as well as the type of injuries he sustained and what part of his body was injured.
Puran firmly contended that it was not enough for the lawyer to “just stand at the bar table and lay claims and allegations that her client was beaten,” so he was calling for her to properly substantiate the claims she was making.
The lawyer calmly responded that she was not a medical practitioner and as such could not speak on the extent of the injuries her client would have sustained.
Puran suggested that the court request the defendant to provide a description of the persons who had allegedly beaten him.
When asked, Deen explained to the court that he had been beaten in the region of his back after being taken into custody by three CANU ranks who he described to the court.
The presiding magistrate then ordered Puran to note the allegations that were being made by the accused and to launch an investigation into the matter.
Puran who refuted the claims of the accused said that the prosecution would have no difficulty in ensuring that he be medically examined by a doctor of his choosing or otherwise.
Rahamat, however, indicated to the court that the defence would be satisfied if Deen were to be sent to the Georgetown Public Hospital just to see a medical doctor irrespective of which side had contacted the doctor.
After listening to the submissions, the magistrate informed the accused that they would be remanded to prison. Their matters were transferred to Court Two for January 31.
On Friday last, Billy Glasgow, Steve Reddy and Robin Singh were arraigned in connection with the same MV Bismarck 2 cocaine bust. They too were remanded to prison. Their matters are set to continue on February 7.
On Wednesday last, CANU ranks along with the GDF Coastguard intercepted the Trinidad-bound fishing vessel with the drugs.
Meanwhile, the owners of the MV Bismarck 2 are still to make contact with the authorities to claim the vessel.
Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh told Stabroek News last evening the organization is still looking for the owners of the vessel and he noted that the agency does not have any information on which a paper trail could have been followed.
Fishing vessels are required to be registered with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) in order for its owners to obtain a licence while the owners of the fishing vessels would also register their vessel with the Agriculture Ministry’s, Fisheries Department.
The owner of the vessel, according to a source, lives overseas and the vessel was said to have been in the midst of a dispute since another foreign national had previously claimed ownership of the vessel.
CANU placed an advertisement in the print media on Sunday requesting the owners of the vessel to report to the nearest police station within 7 days, failing which the vessel would be confiscated.
On Friday, Billy Glasgow, Steve Reddy and Robin Singh, were place remanded to prison in connection with the bust after making an appearance in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
