APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson was yesterday released on her own recognisance after being faced with a cybercrime charge over a recent Facebook post.
Ferguson appeared in a Georgetown court, where the charge was read to her by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.
She denied the charge that she used a computer system to humiliate or harass a person, which was allegedly committed on Guyana Defence Force officer Omar Khan on June 15, 2021. Following her not guilty plea, Ferguson, who was represented by attorney Lyndon Amsterdam, was released on self-bail and advised to return to court on July 26.
Ferguson is currently already facing charges of participating in an illegal procession and obstructing a police officer stemming from an illegal protest on April 26.
In relation to the new charge, she had been arrested by the police on June 30 following a complaint by Khan over a post she made on Facebook about a killing squad. Police had said that the complaint against Ferguson was in relation to a Facebook post which falsely alleged that the said senior GDF rank would be in charge of a killing squad.
She was questioned by the police and the file on the matter was subsequently sent to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which subsequently advised that Ferguson be charged with using a computer system to humiliate a person, contrary to section 195(5)(a) of the Cybercrime Act.
Ferguson’s arrest had also sparked a furious row between Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn.
Harmon, in a statement following Ferguson’s arrest, had condemned the police force for arresting the MP. He also accused the governing PPP of continuously disregarding the law, constitution and rights of citizens, particularly, as it relates to members of the opposition. He then called on all “right thinking” Guyanese to condemn the “dictatorial and authoritarian acts of political persecution being meted out by the PPP to Opposition Members of Parliament.”
Benn, in his response, said that Harmon should know that all persons, inclusive of MPs, are subject to the Laws of Guyana. He also accused Harmon of having a predilection for making unwarranted attacks about the weaponising of the GPF, which he dubbed untrue and malicious in intent.
