As he had threatened, businessman Azruddin Mohamed has filed a more than $200 million lawsuit against Sergeant Dion Bascom who he said defamed him regarding allegations about the killing of Ricardo Fagundes.
Meanwhile, Bascom’s attorney Nigel Hughes yesterday again wrote President Irfaan Ali, seeking witness protection for his client who he said is “deeply concerned about his and his family’s safety.”
Two weeks ago, Bascom went public with bombshell corruption allegations. Following Bascom’s since deleted Facebook video, which he nonetheless made clear he was standing by, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Superinten-dent of Police Mitchell Caesar demanded a retraction, public apology and monetary compensation or lawsuits would follow.
Mohamed in his statement of claim (SoC) said that the statements made by Bascom were among other things false and malicious; tarnished his reputation and caused him “public humiliation, psychological trauma and emotional distress.”
Against this background, the Claimant is seeking general damages for defamation in excess of $100 million and an additional $100 million for exemplary, punitive and/or aggravated damages; with interest to be paid at a rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing on Monday August 29th, to the date of judgment and thereafter at a rate of 4% per annum until fully paid.
Mohamed is also seeking court costs and any further order a Judge sees fit to grant.
Through his attorney Naresh Poonai, the Claimant is also asking the Court to grant an injunction restraining Bascom from making any further related utterances.
Describing himself as a devout Muslim striving to uphold the tenets of his religion such as “honesty, charity, moral turpitude and discipline,” Mohamed deposed in his claim that he not only has an unblemished record but that he has never been charged with any criminal offence.
Following Bascom’s allegations, Mohamed had said that one of his competitors in the gold industry – who he did not name – is the driving force behind the allegations levelled against him and other members of the Guyana Police Force by Police Sergeant Bascom.
In a statement, issued on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, Mohamed said that Bascom and the gold dealer share close relations since the former was integral in the setting up of a security service for the latter.
Meanwhile, the President is yet to give a response to Bascom’s request for witness protection made two weeks ago. In a follow-up letter to the Head of State yesterday, Hughes said that since his client’s plea seeking Ali’s intervention, “there has been increased jeopardy to his (Bascom’s) life.”
Hughes in the letter seen by Stabroek News said that Bascom last week submitted a statement to the Office of Profes-sional Responsibility (OPR) which the Commissioner of Police said the OPR was awaiting.
The statement the lawyer said, “Included details about the events and information which our client had documented.”
Hughes then went on to inform the President in his letter that they have read about the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS) coming to Guyana to review the investigation into Fagundes’ murder; but notes that the team has not sought any information or assistance from his client.
The attorney said that Bascom is currently on medical leave and is deeply concerned about his and his family’s safety.
It is against this backdrop that Hughes renewed his request that President Ali provide witness protection for his client.
Background
Two weeks ago, Bascom went public following his arrest in connection with a drug bust to air his frustrations over what he described as mistreatment that he and other ranks have faced while serving the Guyana Police Force.
During a live Facebook video, Bascom made allegations regarding the stalled Fagundes murder probe, saying he believed his life was under threat and that there was a cover-up by police of the slaying.
He also claimed that a senior policeman was paid $30 million to bury the Fagundes case and implicated others as being linked to the crime, prompting the threat of lawsuits.
Bascom had claimed that he was one of the officers who arrived at the scene following the shooting of Fagundes. 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.
He had also further alleged that he played a key role in pursuing one of the suspects in the murder of Fagundes.
The GPF has since dismissed Bascom’s claims as “malicious and untrue”.
After he made the allegations, Bascom proceeded on sick leave. Following orders last week he, however, reported to duty to his posting in Essequibo, despite his previous request to be reassigned.
The OPR investigated the matter and their findings along with recommendations were forwarded to the DPP’s Chambers for legal advice.
Stabroek News was reliably informed during last week that the police received legal advice to institute several criminal charges against Bascom. Sources had said Bascom is likely to face a total of seven charges.
Bascom is yet to be charged. As a matter of fact, Hughes said he is yet to be informed of the charges.
During last week, President Ali disclosed that the CARICOM RSS has been asked to review the investigation into Fagundes’ murder. The lead investigator of the team is already in Guyana.
Sources had said “all aspects of the investigation,” including allegations made by Bascom that there was a deliberate attempt by the GPF to cover up the crime, are being looked at.
Fagundes, who was a close friend of convicted drug trafficker, Roger Khan, was riddled with bullets by two men outside 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 weapon.
