Political activist Dr Veerasammy Ramayya yesterday pleaded not guilty to a cybercrime charge stemming from statements he made about a pandit in an online video.
The charge was read to Dr Ramayya when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.
Dr Ramayya, 75, of Lot 64 Whim Village, Corentyne, was charged with the offence of using a computer system to harass and humiliate Surujdyal Sahadeo, called Pandit Dave, 43, of Crabwood Creek on Wednesday June 1.
Presenting the basic facts of the charge to the court, Police Prosecutor Lenox Poliah told the court that Dr. Ramayya posted a video of himself lambasting the character of Sahadeo in June, 2022.
According to the Prosecutor, Dr Ramayya said that Sahadeo is “hauling gilbaka fish and doing religious work.” He reported that Ramayya also said that there is a shortage of milk in the village “because persons are required to wash” Sahadeo’s feet.
Ramayya pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was initially going to be placed on $50,000 bail. However, his attorney, Mirza Sahadat noted that Ramayya was of good standing in the community. He also pointed out, that his client is a former parliamentarian and a former regional executive officer as well as a former coordinator for President Irfaan Ali’s Rapid Response Taskforce in Region Six. As a result, Magistrate Moore released Ramayya on his own recognizance. He is due to return to court on February 20, 2023.
Following the court proceedings, Ramayya told Stabroek News that this is the first time in his political career that he is facing a charge of any kind. He said, “As far as I am concerned, this is a political charge…”
He added, that he was surprised at the specific facts given that he would have said other things which he thought he was being charged over. “Whatever is being fabricated here I believe it stemmed because of my resignation,” he said, referring to his decision to resign as the Coordinator for President Ali’s Rapid Response Taskforce in Region Six, after he allegedly upset regional officials due to his complaints about massive corruption in the region.
Meanwhile, Sahadat argued that the charge is a very wide one, while pointing out that it seems journalists can now even be charged for cybercrimes based on the section which Dr. Ramayya was charged under. “I don’t see why the law should have been used in this case to prosecute this man. I feel this is persecution in this case.”
Additionally, Sahadat noted that similar laws have been quashed in other jurisdictions, such as India, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the United States of America. “Any lil thing that offends somebody or they feel embarrassed, a person can be charged for cybercrime…,” he noted.
Against this background, he signalled plans to challenge the constitutionality of the law. “I feel that it is a serious interference with the freedom of speech, freedom of expression which is a fundamental right under our act, under our constitution,” he said.
