The application made by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) prosecutor in May to summon journalist Travis Chase and a station manager to testify in the trial of self-confessed drug trafficker Barry Dataram was yesterday given the go ahead.
Dataram, his common-law wife Anjanie Boodnarine, Kevin Charran, and Trevor Gouveia are currently on trial over the alleged possession of 129.230 kilogrammes of cocaine (equivalent to 284 pounds). It was reported that the drugs were found at Dataram’s Lot 661 Silver Dam, Fourth Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home.
During yesterday’s hearing before Magistrate Judy Latchman, CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford-Thompson stated that there are three witnesses remaining to give evidence in relation to the matter, two of whom were HGPTV employee Chase and station manager Nyjel Fraser.
She stated, however that she was in need of summonses for Chase and Fraser, and was told by the magistrate to go ahead and summons them.
The court also heard from owner of the Lot 661 Section A Block X Diamond property, Vishwanint Ramnarine, who testified that after constructing the two-storey building in 2007, which was his primary residence, it was put up for rent/sale when his wife decided to pursue studies in Trinidad and Tobago.
As a result, he stated, an advertisement was placed and after some time he received a call in 2013 from Dataram. An agreement was later signed between the two with the defendant using the name Kevin Dataram.
Dataram agreeed to pay $135,000 per month and made a payment of $810,000 as initial rental and one month’s security deposit.
The property was occupied by Dataram, according to Ramnarine, until April, 2015.
Officer Navendra Samaroo, who was among the party of policemen that conducted a search on Dataram’s residence stated that among other items found in a vanity that was in the bedroom of the upper flat, was a rent receipt dated March 5, 2014 for Kevin Dataram signed by Vishwanint Rmnarine for property 661 Lot X Section A Diamond.
During the search, Samaroo stated, he found $652,340, a US passport property of Bowman Dataram, a driver’s licence, belonging to Barry Dataram, a Guyanese passport and medical card belonging to Brad Kris Dataram, a US visa application confirmation letter and a Guyana passport belonging to Navendra Liliah.
Also discovered were a Guyana passport application form and birth certificate for Trevor Gouveia, a police clearance, 2 birth certificates, a Guyana passport, a travel ticket, and a medical card for Anjanie Boodnarine, along with a business registration in the name of Anjanie Temoul.
Samaroo stated further that a quantity of cellphones and a watch were also found.
The documents, excluding the airline ticket, were tendered and marked as evidence.
Attorney Glenn Hanoman cross-examined both Ramnarine and Samaroo and further cross-examined officer Yarde.
A request was later made by Hanoman to have some of the documents and the funds found returned to his clients, as they have been unable to accomplish certain tasks.
The CANU prosecutor made no objection to the documents being returned to the defendants. However, she objected to the funds being returned.
But Magistrate Latchman declined the request to return the documents, given that they have been entered into evidence and will be used by her when reviewing the entire case.
She stated further that the funds will also remain in the possession of CANU.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to August 12.
