The High Court on Sunday ordered Commissioner of Police Leslie James to release Jermaine Kingston, the man who was arrested last week following the circulation of a video on social media in which he was allegedly heard making a threat while displaying guns and ammunition.
Attorney Everton Singh-Lammy yesterday told Stabroek News that Kingston was kept in custody without charge for over 72 hours.
“His 72 hours would have expired on Saturday at 12. Efforts were made to contact the police after the 72 hours were up and they ignored the calls. They frustrated all efforts,” Singh-Lammy said.
As a result, he filed for a habeas corpus writ on Saturday night. At a hearing on Sunday morning, a judge, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, ordered that Kingston be released and that costs in the sum of $150,000 be awarded to him.
“The police defied the court’s order in presenting his body before the court so in the absence, the court ruled that he be forthwith released,” Singh-Lammy noted.
According to him, if James failed to comply with the terms, he could be held in contempt of court and could be liable to imprisonment or even have his assets confiscated.
Stabroek News had previously reported that 26-year-old Kingston was arrested last Wednesday and a number of firearms belonging to a private security firm were seized following the circulation of a threatening video on social media.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan had confirmed that the Guyana Police Force had commenced a thorough investigation into the case.
“So far investigators have arrested a 26-year-old male and seized a number of firearms belonging to a private security firm,” Ramlakhan had said.
In the short video, which was seen by Stabroek News, a man, suspected to be Kingston, appeared to be seated in the front seat of a vehicle and was heard singing as he displayed the firearms and ammunition.
Some of the items were seen on the seat of the vehicle while others were on his legs. He was then heard making a threat.
