| An Irish national who allegedly “fell prey to Guyanese rum”, after consuming a number of alcoholic beverages at the rodeo last weekend, appeared in court yesterday charged with threatening to assassinate the President of Guyana.Police say that on March 29 last, while at Tabatinga, North Rupununi, Cilian James Crossan used threatening language against the President.Irish national Cilian James CrossanThe defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge as he stood before Magistrate Judy Latchman. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Glenn Hanoman.The lawyer told the court that his client is just 17 years old – having been born on June 26, 1995, in Ireland. At this statement, the Magistrate requested a copy of the defendant’s birth certificate which was produced to the court. The lawyer further claimed his client’s outburst against the President was simply because he was under the influence of alcohol.“The defendant had been very, very intoxicated after consuming alcohol beverages to which he was not accustomed, and I think fell prey to Guyanese rum,” Hanoman stated.At this remark, the Magistrate inquired whether the defendant had been drinking piwari.Hanoman told the court that the teenager is attached to the British charity, Project Trust, as a volunteer teacher at Shulinab, South Central Rupununi, since last August. A project, he says, which is actively involved in educating young Guyanese in remote areas of the country.Also present at the hearing was the Honorary Consul of Ireland to Guyana, Deen Sharma, and a representative of Project Trust, who vouched that the defendant has an unblemished character, while adding that this was the first incident of which any of the volunteers had been charged.In his appeal for bail, the Defence Counsel further stated he is doubtful that the complainant in the matter is aware of the proceedings.“I am even more doubtful that the complainant may want to proceed with the matter,” Hanoman stated.However Police Prosecution Sergeant Vishnu Hunte objected to bail on the grounds that “the threat was directed to no other than the President of Guyana his Excellency Donald Ramotar by a foreign national. “There is therefore is likelihood that he may flee the jurisdiction since he is not a resident of Guyana,” Hunte stated.Hunte said that while the President was at Lethem, it was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall who heard the defendant’s public remarks and cautioned him to stop but he refused, thus he was arrested. Hunte further said that the accused admitted to making the threats while under caution by police ranks.“I will shoot the President; I will shoot the President in his head,” Police claimed that Crossan said, while in the vicinity of the City Boy Club Bar at Tabatinga, Lethem.However, the presiding Magistrate did not deny bail, but ordered that the defendant lodge his travel documents and report to the Lethem police outpost every Monday pending the outcome of the case.The man was released on $60,000 bail. The case will continue on May 30,Marshon Lattimore Jersey, as he is scheduled to stand before the Chief Magistrate on this date. |
