Wanted man Rickford Burke served with defendant summons at Brooklyn home

US-based Guyanese political activist Rickford Burke, who is wanted in his homeland for a series of crimes, has been served with two defendant summonses to attend the Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts on March 28, 2024, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has said on Wednesday.

On December 3, 2021, a wanted bulletin was issued for Burke in relation to these offences: excitement of hostility or ill-will on the ground of race, contrary to the Racial Hostility Act; sedition and use of a computer system to coerce and intimidate a person, both contrary to the Cyber Crime Act; seditious libel, contrary to common law; seditious libel under the peace, contrary to the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act; and inciting public terror, contrary to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.
The Guyana Police Force had again issued a wanted bulletin for Burke on September 29, 2022, in connection with the crime of conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, concerning the publication of defamatory libel with the intention of extorting money from Afras Mohammed.
Two media workers: Alex Wayne and Gary Eleazar, had implicated Burke in the extortion, according to the Police. Wayne and Eleazar were subsequently charged and released on bail.
Two charges were then filed against Burke for the aforementioned offences in the Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts on August 18, 2023.
However, Burke, who lives in the United States of America, did not show up for court. Consequently, the presiding Magistrate directed that Burke be served with two defendant summonses to appear in court on March 28, 2024.
Two defendant summonses were subsequently prepared in accordance with the court’s order; and on December 13, 2023, Assistant Police Superintendent (ASP) Rodwell Sarabo travelled to the USA to serve Burke with the summonses.
In a meeting with American process server Mark Wesserman on December 16, 2023, ASP Rodwell Sarabo issued both defendant summonses to Burke at his Brooklyn, New York (NY) home address on Maple Street. Both summonses were read to Burke, and he acknowledged understanding them, the GPF said.
The GPF has warned that a similar course of action would be adopted against persons who are outside of the jurisdiction but engage in criminal conduct.
It had been reported earlier this year that Burke’s extradition was being sought by the Police. (G1)