Accusations of covering up “Paper Shorts” execution: Cop under OPR probe slapped with threats of $175M lawsuits

Only days after he made a Facebook video implicating a senior member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), a well-known businessman, and his employee, in the murder and alleged cover-up of 42-year-old Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, Sergeant Dion Bascom has been slapped with threats of lawsuits from all corners.
Police Superintendent Mitchell Caesar, well-known businessman Azruddin Mohamed, and his security operative Mark Richmond, who were all implicated in the Superintendent’s live video which has since been deleted but continues to make the rounds on social media, have all dispatched lawyers’ letters to Bascom.

In the letters, they all threatened to sue Bascom for a combined total of GY$175 million if he did not retract his defamatory allegations, issue an unqualified apology approved by the claimants and pay monetary damages agreed upon within seven days for defamation of character and goodwill.
Additionally, they all informed Bascom that he could face charges including but not limited to, breaches of the Cyber Crime Act 2018. Additionally, Bascom could face private criminal prosecution from all three claimants.
In his letter, Richmond through his Attorney-at-Law Naresh Poonai claimed that Bascom made false and misleading statements when he said that Richmond was involved in the Fagundes murder and the alleged destruction of evidence related to the case.
Additionally, he noted that statements to the effect that Richmond was in contact with another individual at the time of the shooting and that he is involved in criminal activities, are also false and misleading.

Richmond, who threatened to sue Bascom for in excess of $100 million, noted that even though Bascom eventually removed the original live recording, it had already been downloaded and is still being shared across social media, which continues to cause harm to his reputation.
On the other hand, Police Superintendent Caesar, through Attorney-at-Law Poonai, took issue with several of Bascom’s claims and aspersions cast on him, including untrue claims that he, together with other Police ranks, victimised and framed Bascom and was harbouring the intention of killing or causing grievous bodily harm to an unnamed journalist.
Additionally, Caesar took issue with Bascom’s claims that he was unprofessional in handling Paper Shorts’ murder investigation and that he collected a $30 million bribe. He threatened to sue Bascom for $50 million if he does not take corrective steps including a retraction of his defamation in as public a manner as the said defamation was made.

Mohamed
Meanwhile, Mohamed, who was also represented by Poonai, threatened to sue Bascom for $25 million if he did not take similar corrective steps as described in Richmond and Caesar’s letters. According to Mohamed, Bascom made several untrue and defamatory statements including that he bribed a serving member of the GPF with $30 million to cover up Paper Shorts’ murder.

“Even after you removed the live recording, I am instructed that you made a public post on your Facebook page under the name Dion Bascom, which has not been removed. This post, inter alia, suggests that you were forced by my client and other persons to remove your broadcast and live recordings, that my client “controls” the Guyana Police Force, that my client wants to harm you and your family and that my client was involved in a plot to kill an unnamed journalist,” Mohamed said in his lawyer’s letter.
In addition, Mohamed’s Enterprise on Saturday distanced itself from the accusation, claiming that the allegations made by Bascom are very distressing and are aimed at tarnishing the company’s reputation to which Azruddin Mohamed is associated.

“For this, we wish to place on the public record the following: Mohamed’s Enterprise was never subjected to any investigation related to the crime Mr Bascom referred to. We have no record that Mr Bascom ever visited our main office. We have no record that Mr Bascom or any other rank approached our office to arrest any employee or to conduct any investigation,” the release added.
Further, Mohamed’s Enterprise also stated that it is ready to assist the Police with any investigation since the Guyana Police Force has always received its respect and support, and more so, the company believes in the rule of law and justice.
Following the Facebook live video that was posted by Bascom, making several allegations against the Police Force, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has already said it has been instructed to commence an investigation.
Last week, Bascom was among five people who were arrested when Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) raided a Norton Street, Georgetown house. Reports are that CANU officers conducted an operation at a Norton Street residence, where a known drug trafficker resides. A subsequent search of the premises led to the discovery of four parcels containing suspected cocaine. The known drug trafficker along with the cop and three persons were arrested at the premises.
Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes was killed execution-style in March 2021 outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown night spot. Reports are the man was partying with a group of friends at the bar when his phone rang and he exited the club to take the call, but soon after, several gunshots were heard. Reports are that the now dead man’s friends rushed out to enquire, but found Fagundes lying motionlessly in a pool of blood close to his motor car.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived shortly after the shooting and pronounced Fagundes dead. Following the incident, Police recovered at least 15 spent shells from a high-powered rifle at the scene.
Less than 24 hours after the shooting incident, Police found a white wagon, which is suspected to have been used by the killer, on fire at Swan, Linden-Soesdyke Highway. However, investigators have not confirmed if it was the same car but based on CCTV footage, the car was of the same model as the one seen outside the nightspot, in which the killer escaped following the shooting.