Full force of law to be applied – Govt after gunfire at home of key extradition witness

…US Justice Department informed

The Government of Guyana has warned that the full force of the law will be applied following a gunfire incident outside the Kitty, Georgetown, home of Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, a key witness in the ongoing extradition proceedings against United States-sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Government said it was concerned about what it described as attempts to pervert the facts surrounding the incident, which occurred shortly before midnight on Monday.
“The law must be allowed to take its course,” the Government said, adding that no amount of what it described as “obfuscation, concoction or Facebook trolling” would be allowed to contradict the factually verifiable account of the incident and its far-reaching legal implications.
According to the Government, the facts already in the public domain indicate that Mohamed and two other men were, by his own admission, “filming” Narine’s home at Barr Street, Kitty, around midnight. The men were reportedly travelling in a dark-coloured, heavily tinted car when gunshots rang out from the vehicle.
Spent shells were subsequently found on the road in close proximity to Narine’s residence.
The Government said Narine used his service handgun to fire at the car, after which law enforcement officers pursued the vehicle. It was intercepted, with Mohamed found in the back seat and the two other occupants in the front.
An unlicensed firearm was found in the car, and all three men were arrested and remain in police custody.
Police have said they are investigating the discharge of a loaded firearm with intent and the possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence following the incident, which occurred at about 23:45h on October 12.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Narine was at home when he observed a black Toyota Allion, registration number PXX 5300, travelling slowly along Barr Street. The vehicle passed his residence before returning to the area a short while later.
Police said that when the car approached the residence for a second time, Narine heard what appeared to be a gunshot. He took cover and discharged several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the vehicle, which subsequently drove away.
The car was later intercepted at the junction of Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, Kitty.
The occupants were identified as Mohamed, 39, of Houston, East Bank Demerara; Mario Mohamed, 25, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara; and Eugene Thorne, 35, a driver, also of Timehri. They were arrested and taken to the Kitty Police Station.

“He is a critical witness.”
The Government’s statement placed particular emphasis on Narine’s role in the extradition proceedings, noting that he is currently testifying in the case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
“It is public knowledge that Senior Superintendent Narine is currently on the witness stand testifying in the Mohameds’ ongoing extradition case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He is a critical witness,” the statement said.
The Government also pointed to photographs posted on Mohamed’s Facebook page showing Narine and members of his family, including his minor son, with President Dr Irfaan Ali. The statement said the photographs were posted in an attempt to insinuate impropriety.
It further noted that Narine had complained under oath to the presiding Magistrate that he feared for his life and the safety of his family, including his minor son.
The Government said Narine had also testified under oath that Mohamed posed a threat to national security and that, according to information acquired by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Mohamed was implicated in several killings.

Legal implications
“The legal implications here are many and far-reaching,” the Government said, adding that witnesses had already turned up dead in murder investigations implicating Mohamed.
It warned that the ramifications of the incident extended beyond the safety of witnesses in Guyana’s ongoing extradition proceedings to the criminal justice system of the United States.
The Government noted that the extradition proceedings in Guyana were preliminary to a criminal trial that would likely take place in the United States if Mohamed were extradited.
It said multiple serious criminal offences arose from consideration of Monday night’s incident and confirmed that investigations by the state’s law enforcement agencies were continuing.
“The State has a duty to protect its justice system from interference and perversion. Witnesses are key to any justice system. They must always feel safe when they testify. It is the State’s duty to protect them. The State will do so. The full force of the law will be applied,” the statement said.
The Government also confirmed that the Department of Justice of the United States was being kept informed of the developments.
The three men remain in police custody as investigations continue.