Harrylall Motilall, the businessman who was sentenced in absentia to four years imprisonment back in 2016 for discharging a loaded firearm at Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officers, was yesterday afternoon arrested, during a road block at the Cove and John Public Road.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, in a press statement last evening, confirmed that Motilall, also known as ‘Jinga Harry’, of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was apprehended by ranks during the intelligence-led operation.
He was escorted to the prison, where he will commence serving his sentence, Ramlakhan said.
On May 16, 2016, Motilall was found guilty of the charge, which stated that on July 16, 2014, while in company of others at Airy Hall, Mahaicony, he discharged a loaded firearm at Fabian Stuart, Jason Moore, Khemraj Murli and Garfield Scott, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.
The ruling was handed down in Motilall’s absence by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court after the prosecution closed its case.
The magistrate had ordered that Motilall spend the first two years in prison.
He is to spend the remaining two if he committed any other criminal offences after the ruling was passed.
The case was prosecuted by Police Inspector Hattie Anthony and Corporal Cheryl Graham, while Motilall was represented by attorney Kim Kyte-John from the inception of the matter.
The case was initially called on July 21, 2014, before Magistrate Lovell and Motilall was placed on $350,000 bail.
Stabroek News had reported that officials had swooped down on a Mahaicony property where 150 boxes of chicken were being discharged from three buses.
During that time, a silver-coloured car appeared and the occupants opened fire at the GRA officers, who returned fire. Five spent shells that were reportedly from an AK 47 gun were recovered, while a few were recovered from the officials’ guns.
Prosecutor Graham, during the first court hearing, had said the GRA officials came under fire while intercepting smugglers.
She had submitted that the workers were in the process of taking away three vehicles with the smuggled items when the accused drove up in a silver car and discharged several rounds.
One of the workers was shot in the chest and right hand.
A similar incident occurred several weeks ago and is currently under investigation.
