The Guyana Police Force last evening said that Working People’s Alliance (WPA) activist Kidackie Amsterdam has been arrested over the alleged inciting of the murder of President Irfaan Ali and other government officials.
In a statement, the police said that at about 11 am yesterday, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) contacted Amsterdam at his recording studio at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, where he was told of the allegations and arrested.
Amsterdam was arrested in relation to three cybercrime offences, including:
** Using a computer system to transmit words spoken by a video that encourages or incites any person to commit the offence of murder against the President and members of the Government, contrary to Section 18(1)(c) of the Cybercrime Act No 16 of 2018.
** Using a computer system to disseminate information knowing same to be false, contrary to Section 19(3) (a) of the Cybercrime Act No 16 of 2018.
The offences were also allegedly committed against a businessman and others.
The police said that according to the Cyber Crime Act No 16 of 2018, if convicted on Indictment for the first offence, a person is liable to imprisonment of five years.
If convicted summarily on the second offence, a person is liable to a fine of $5m and imprisonment of three years, and if convicted on Indictment, a person is liable to a fine of $10m and imprisonment of five years.
These matters are being treated “very seriously”, the police said.
Earlier yesterday, the WPA condemned the arrest of Amsterdam by the police stating that it was done on the flimsy accusation of committing a cyber-crime against a citizen with high connections, a release stated.
The release stated that yesterday at approximately 10 am detectives from the CID descended on the home of Amsterdam. He was taken to the CID headquarters and held for two hours before he was transferred to the Ruimveldt Police Station where he is currently being detained. He was informed of the reason for his arrest only after repeated queries by his attorney, Nigel Hughes.
According to Hughes, “The Guyana Police Force has now arrested Kidackie Amsterdam of Guyanese morning for a cyber-crime which report the police say was made weeks ago by Mohamed Qualander. There is a pending civil trial matter between Mohamed Qualander and Kidackie Amsterdam.”
The WPA said that a civil case was brought against Amsterdam following remarks made on the Guyana Morning Time Social Media broadcast.
“The complainant named by the police, who is known to be a close friend of a high government functionary, has already brought a civil case against Mr. Amsterdam stemming from remarks made on the Guyana Morning Time Social Media broadcast. That the police are now pursuing criminal charges can only be seen as an attempt to influence the civil matter or to further persecute Amsterdam.”
The WPA stated that Amsterdam was denied station bail by the police and as a result this development is viewed as another “presumptuous utilization” of the police by the political bosses to harass and intimidate political opponents.
