As convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan awaits deportation to Guyana, his local lawyer, Glenn Hanoman, is suspicious about the continued delay, which he thinks may be politically-influenced.
“In my heart, I know that they are not being straight forward with the matter…..I think his delay is political. It’s not logistical, it’s political,” Hanoman told Stabroek News yesterday during a telephone interview.
On Friday, Police Commissioner Leslie James had told reporters that Khan’s return to Guyana was delayed due to Hurricane Dorian.
“I understand because of the hurricane we have had in the Caribbean recently, his arrival has been delayed,” James told reporters.
Hanoman, however, explained that he doesn’t believe the reason given for the delay while noting that the flight on which Khan was expected reportedly arrived in Guyana and even had other persons who were deported on board.
“So, the official response doesn’t ring true for us. The hurricane didn’t trouble Florida at all. No flights were delayed from Miami. People came to Guyana as deported since then,” Hanoman said.
He added that Khan is being provided with “very limited” information about his deportation and was just informed that his flight was rescheduled on Sunday without even being provided with a reason as to why.
However, Hanoman said that he knows that the rescheduling process is a lengthy one that is likely to take another three to four weeks.
“We are in a mystery… All they have said to him (Khan) is that his flight has been rescheduled. No date but we are aware that it takes a long time to reschedule a flight, especially if you are being escorted, there is a lot of different travel arrangements you got to make for different people you know. So, we are aware it takes some time, some three to four weeks,” he noted.
“…The other sad thing is that the Guyana embassy in America is supposed to look after the interest of its citizens. They are saying absolutely nothing about it,” he added.
Hanoman further stated that he is considering seeking a meeting with the police commissioner or some other official to enquire what really is going on. “Everybody is a bit paranoid at this point because [there is] a lot of gossip and politics surrounding this matter and all we can hope for is that the politics don’t get in the way,” he said.
He also said Khan is currently depressed as a result of the situation.
“He (Khan) is actually quite depressed. And his situation is unusual… it’s unusual for somebody to be there for so long after they have been released,” Hanoman noted.
Khan was released from a US prison in early July after serving almost ten years of a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking. He was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, witness tampering and gun-running.
