Superintendent of Police Mitchell Caesar and Mohamed’s Enterprise on Saturday moved to refute and distance themselves from the bombshell corruption allegations made by police detective Dion Bascom about the killing of Ricardo Fagundes, which he said had been covered up.
Caesar, who is the Deputy Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crimes Unit, Azruddin Mohamed and an employee of Mohamed’s, Mark Richmond, through separate lawyers letters, demanded that Bascom retract allegations he made during a since deleted Facebook video last Thursday night and publicly apologise or face lawsuits.
All three men were represented by attorneys from the Poonai and Poonai law firm—a connection that a defiant Bascom pointed out yesterday in a new video, where he stood by everything he had previously said.
“How they get the same lawyer?” he remarked in reference to the letters, which he said were delivered at the same time. “All them men tek the same lawyer,” he later added in the new live video, where he also shared what he said was evidence to support his claims and indicated his willingness to turn it over to an international body to investigate.
In the letters sent to Bascom, the attorneys asserted that their respective clients were defamed by his comments.
In the letter on behalf of Caesar, attorney Sohan Poonai called on Bascom to cease and desist from making further allegations about his client, issue a retraction and unqualified apology and pay monetary damages within seven days.
The lawyer indicated that should Bascom fail to do so, legal proceedings would be instituted against him for defamation of character and in excess of $50 million in damages.
The letter also advised him that he may have committed several breaches of the cybercrime laws, which may result in legal charges.
“My client maintains his rights to make criminal complaints as he sees fit including filing private criminal prosecution against you without further notice,” the letter concludes.
The letter by attorney Naresh Poonai on behalf of Mohamed made similar demands but indicated that the monetary damages that would be sought would be in excess of $25 million. “Plainly speaking, all of these statements and accusations against my client are patently untrue… and have caused significant harm and injury to my client, his good name, his reputation and lowered his standing in the Guyanese, regional and international community. My client and his good name have suffered great harm to his reputation due to your unjustified conduct,” the letter stated.
Attorney Naresh Poonai also authored the letter sent in respect of Richmond, who has indicated that he would seek in excess of $100 million in damages should Bascom fail to comply with his demands.
However, in his video in response Bascom was defiant, saying that he stood by everything he had stated previously. “I rather die telling the truth than die with the truth inside of me,” he said.
In a statement also issued yesterday, proprietor of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Nazar Mohamed, said the allegations made by Bascom were “distressing” and aimed at tarnishing the company’s reputation.
The statement said the company, which operates one of the largest gold trading and cambio businesses in Guyana, was never subjected to any investigation in relation to the crime referred to by Bascom nor was there any record of the policeman visiting their office.
It went on to say that there was no record of Bascom or any police ranks approaching its office to arrest any employee or to conduct any investigation.
Nonetheless, the statement said the company stands ready to help the police with any investigation.
Bascom’s initial allegations, which he made in a live broadcast on Facebook on Thursday night, have since triggered a probe by the police force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
How can OPR investigate?
In his video yesterday, Bascom revealed that he was contacted by the OPR to make a statement. However, while not stating if he visited the agency, he indicated he had his reservations as he does not feel it would be able to conduct an impartial investigation given that he would have mentioned the names of senior officers. Noting that he has nothing against the OPR or its head, he pointed out when the investigation is completed it will have to be reviewed by a senior officer against whom he has also made allegations. As a result, he suggested that the investigation can be influenced.
“How OPR can investigate this matter and call me to give them statement?” he questioned in light of his concerns.
“The Police Complaints Authority supposed to be looking after this matter or some international body from the USA or Canada or England or somewhere…This matter can’t be looked after by OPR…,” he added.
In his new video, Bascom gave a glimpse of the evidence he said was in his possession to support his allegations. He stated that he has more evidence but was refraining from releasing all. He indicated that he is waiting to present his evidence at a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
In the live video from Thursday, which went viral before it was deleted, Bascom, a police sergeant, said he was one of the officers who was present at the scene following the shooting of Fagundes, known as ‘Paper Shorts.’ He shared that an individual who works as security for a city businessman had been identified as the prime suspect in the murder.
Bascom also alleged that a senior officer from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) received $30 million bribe to bury the matter.
According to Bascom, he and other officers were able to track the phone used by the prime suspect and the calls he made before and after the shooting. “….They use everything and destroy all the evidence but they forget how….technology does wuk,” Bascom said during the live feed.
Fagundes, who was a close friend of convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan, was riddled with bullets by two men outside of the Palm Court on the evening of Sunday, March 21, last year.
At the time of the attack, he was approaching a parked vehicle owned by Khan.
An autopsy later confirmed that Fagundes was shot about 20 times about his body. Khan would later say he was the intended target of the attack.
The police recovered 30 spent shells at the scene. Sixteen were from an AK-47 rifle, while the other fourteen were from a 9mm gun.
To date, the murder remains unsolved.
In short clips extracted from the live broadcast and seen by Stabroek News, Bascom, who said he had been a member of the GPF for 12 years, voiced his frustration at being used by force without receiving any credit for his work.
He also said he was tired of hidden corrupt practices involving senior members within the force.
His decision to go public came in wake of his recent arrest in connection with a drug bust and what he described as mistreatment that he and other ranks have faced while serving the GPF.
Bascom indicated his willingness to testify before any court or CoI.
In his live video yesterday he further related that after he was arrested and released on bail by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit, he received a call from a friend who informed him that people were out to “lash yuh up” (slang for murder) and link him to the drug bust.
It was after hearing this, he stated, that he made up his mind to speak out against the alleged corruption within the police force.
“My family [would] lose in three ways. They would lose me, they would not have gotten any justice because they would [have] said I get killed because of drugs and my family would have been tainted. So I had to make up my mind and that was the reason for me to come and talk out. Nobody nah tell me to come and talk,” he said.
