-wife, employee flown to city for interrogation
A Lethem contractor is being hunted by police over Monday’s discovery of an arms cache that included automatic rifles and grenades at a house in the community.
The man, known by the call name ‘Bora,’ is suspected to have fled to Brazil, while his wife and an employee, who were arrested by police, were flown from the Region Nine community to Georgetown yesterday morning to be interrogated.
It is believed that the weapons were smuggled from Brazil and were destined for the city. Stabroek News was told that from all indications, the bust was as a result of a “soured deal.”
Around 3 pm on Monday, police raided the house at Tabatinga, Lethem and found four automatic rifles along with four magazines and 389 rounds of 7.62×39 calibre ammunition; six M-16 rifles along with two magazines and 74 matching rounds; two shrapnel hand grenades; one Icon VHF radio set; one Icon hand-held radio set; and one roll of camouflage material.
A senior police official told Stabroek News yesterday that the contractor being sought is a close relative of an ex-policeman, who was once a close associate of convicted drug kingpin Roger Khan.
Stabroek News has been informed that the two are cousins. The contractor, this newspaper was also told, had several run-ins with police, including for weapon-related matters and using threatening behaviour.
Asked if the weapons came from neighbouring Brazil, the official stated that it was too early to state and investigators are looking to do an e-trace on the items. An e-trace is an internet-based system which allows law enforcement agencies to submit requests for firearm traces.
Investigators will also be seeking other forms of assistance in recognising and tracing the weapons as ranks are in possession of some of the serial numbers that are printed on them, the official added.
The contractor’s wife’s name was given only as “Aumolie,” and she is said to be the mother of two young children, while the employee was identified as Benedict Thomas, 19, who has alleged that police beat him before bringing him to the city.
At the Ogle Municipal Airport, armed policemen were present to escort the two prisoners to Eve Leary. When they arrived, a van load of police were waiting on the tarmac and uniformed ranks approached as the plane came to a stop. Police investigators and several soldiers exited the aircraft followed by the two prisoners.
Thomas, who was handcuffed, had black and blue marks to his face and his right eye was swollen, while the woman, who was not handcuffed, had a scared looked on her face and she did not say anything.
Minutes later, another police vehicle drove on to the tarmac and it escorted the vehicle transporting the prisoners and the arms cache.
Thomas’s lawyer Glen Hanoman, who attempted to speak to him moments after he touched down at the airport, was denied access. As the vehicles were about to leave the airport, Hanoman stopped the vehicle transporting the suspects and requested to speak with his client.
The rank behind the wheel denied him access and added that he could visit Eve Leary, where Thomas was being taken. When asked by Hanoman if he was beaten by the police, Thomas did indicate yes by shaking his head.
‘Beaten’
Hanoman told reporters that Thomas’ family contacted him and informed that he was beaten by police at Lethem.
The attorney noted that he spoke with a senior policeman earlier in the day and indicated that he would be present at Ogle so that his client could have access to him as the constitution provides. “Having told the police that I wanted to speak with my client before they whisked him away to perhaps use further unorthodox measures to obtain statements from them I was refused access to him,” he, however, said.
Hanoman noted that the constitution provides that every person in Guyana has a right to access his attorney-at-law without delay. “I suspect that the beatings will continue and I am very fearful. I am calling on the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to look into this matter because for far too long people without power have been bullied in this country and in this climate, where a lot of these wrongdoings are alleged against the Guyana Police Force I am hoping that they do the correct thing and allow me access at a later stage,” he said.
Based on the information he has received, Hanoman said a quantity of arms and ammunition were found somewhere in Lethem in an open yard where his client resides.
Hanoman later managed to see and speak with Thomas, noting that he pointed out the officer who inflicted the injuries on him. He said that he lodged a complaint with a senior policeman at Eve Leary and asked that Thomas be seen by a doctor.
The officer, Hanoman said, told him that he had taken note of his concerns and will take the appropriate action.
Tense
Meanwhile, residents of Lethem said that the atmosphere in the community is tense in the wake of the discovery, while noting that there have been reports circulating that such weapons are present.
A resident, who wished not to be named, said that she was scared. “Lethem will be looked at differently now. This will affect us working to achieve township status. This will cast a damper on us,” she said.
The resident noted that she would not categorise the suspect as a contractor, because he was building “here and there,” while adding that he was known to police. She said that many years ago, he and his wife migrated to the area. He is from the North West District, in Region One, while the woman is originally from Essequibo, the resident added.
In October 2008, a similar discovery was made in a barrel at Regent Street. Although wanted bulletins were issued for three men no one was every charged.
Members of the Joint Services had searched the residence on Regent Street and discovered an AK-47 rifle with the number filed off; a pistol with a silencer; a Mossberg shotgun; 713 rounds of ammunition of various calibre; 7 magazines for different firearms; a green camouflage water bottle and a green canvas pouch.
