GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jul 18, CMC – Lawyers representing a Guyanese national have gone to the High Court here challenging their client’s extradition to Suriname, describing the move as “illegal”.
Raymond David, who previously lived in Suriname was arrested by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at his business place recently and taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station, where he was told that he was wanted for murder in Suriname.
On June 19, David was reportedly transported to the Springlands Police Station in Berbice where he was handed over to six Surinamese police officers, and transported by boat to Suriname. Since then, he has been held in detention in Suriname.
Speaking at a news conference, attorneys Dexter Todd, Dexter Smartt and Eden Cobin told reporters that from all indications, their client’s fundamental human rights, and the Fugitive Offenders Act were severely breached.
“First and foremost, [we will be] seeking a declaration that his arrest, detention and removal from Guyana, was unlawful, breach of the Fugitive Offenders Act, and should not be taken lightly. It is also a violation of his fundamental rights.
“We also intend on seeking a writ of mandamus, compelling the Government of Guyana to use all diplomatic means and all diplomatic channels to let the Government of Suriname know that this man, this young man, was removed from Guyana’s shores by illegal means, the court has made such declarations, that he should be returned immediately,” Smartt told reporters.
The lawyers said that the procedure for extraditing a Guyanese national is clearly outlined in the Fugitive Offenders Act that requires that in the case of extradition, a person must first be accused or convicted of a serious offence that is punishable to no less than two years in prison.
Corbin told reporters that extradition requests are channeled through the State, through Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, and then the Courts before a final determination is made in relation to the accused.
Corbin said in the case of David, the Fugitive Offenders Act was completely breached, as no such procedure was followed.
Todd told reporters that to compound the situation; David was never wanted for murder in Suriname, explaining that he was a person of interest more than 10 years ago in a narcotics case.
“Every document, every station, every investigative arm in Suriname had been contacted through the legal team, and it was confirmed that there was never any such allegation of Raymond David being involved in a murder. Where did the police in Guyana get that information from leaves, I believe that they would have to answer that,” Todd said.
He said the legal team has done its ground work, and will soon move to the court to request David’s safe return.
David’s sister, Agisha Alder told reporters that her family negatively impacted by David’s arrest.
“Our family is feeling violated in many ways because we are born Guyanese. We were born here. My mother, she went away, she left for Suriname, and she took us with her. So, we didn’t grow up in Guyana but we are born Guyanese. And the way they treated my brother, it is worst than, I don’t even have words, but it is impacting my family in a serious, serious way,” she said.
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