Hotel owner remanded on charge of bribing cop
The General Manager (GM) of a city Hotel was remanded to prison for allegedly offering a detective attached to the Major Crimes Investigations Unit, Eve Leary, Georgetown, $400,000 as bribe for him to suppress evidence
REMANDED:
Veersammy Narine
in a murder case.
Veersammy Narine, 52, of Robb and Alexander Streets, Bourda, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he denied the allegation.
Kaieteur News understands that Narine is a relative of Berbice businessman, Dennis Veersammy, one of the three men charged for the murder of Shameer Ali Mursalin, a former businessman.
Mursalin called ‘Kazac’ a trader formerly of Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice was fatally shot to the head on October 24, 2015.
According to reports, police were investigating a report of threatening language and damage to property at Mursalin’s home. However, when police arrived at the home and called out for him they reportedly got no response. It was reported that police officers ventured into the yard and found Mursalin’s body lying in a pool of blood.
It is alleged that on August 20, last, at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Narine offered Detective Inspector Suraj Singh, an officer employed by the state, the cash as a reward or inducement for him to show favour to Dennis Veersammy in relation to his principal’s affair.
It was reported that Narine turned up at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown last Saturday to hand over $100,000 of a $400,000 sum, to the policeman. According to reports, after appearing to agree to the offer, the detective notified his superiors and a trap was arranged. Narine was taken into custody when he showed up with the cash. The police reportedly have video and audio evidence of the hotel owner offering the bribe and handing over the money.
Attorney Glenn Hanoman made an application for reasonable bail on behalf of the defendant. Hanoman told the court that his client recently had a surgery on his heart whereby two valves were inserted. The lawyer said that his client is scheduled to return to the USA next month for further surgery.
According to Hanoman, Narine had been in custody since last Saturday and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment. He also had several of the defendant’s medical documents in his possession, but they were not handed over to the court.
In addition, Hanoman stated that his client has no reason to absent himself from court.
Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick had no objections to bail for Narine. However, Bostwick requested that conditions be attached.
The prosecutor asked for Narine to stay away from the prosecution’s witnesses pending the outcome of the matter. He pointed out that the nature of the offence aims to pervert the course of justice. In response to the prosecutor’s submission, Hanoman told the court that his client is aware he can be charged if he interferes with the prosecution’s witnesses.
Magistrate Latchman refused the bail application and remanded the defendant to prison until August 29, for reports.