By Shemuel Fanfair
Less than two weeks after a New York Judge ruled that murder accused and high-profile suspect Marcus Bisram be extradited to Guyana, a prominent lawyer who was a Magistrate and an eyewitness are being investigated for perjury. It is expected that charges will be laid against them in the coming days.
Police confirmed that the lawyer was detained on Sunday afternoon, sometime after a witness in the case, a young man, had also been arrested. This publication understands that this young man had approached another witness in the investigation about changing statements. Other reports suggest that he was attempting to contact other witnesses as well.
Police sources disclosed that in days following the eyewitness’s dialogue with the other witness, the lawyer got involved in the discussions and offered advice on what course of action the young man should take when speaking to police investigators. An insider revealed that witness tampering investigations lasted for some two weeks, and the prominent lawyer’s alleged actions in subverting the course of justice with the eyewitness were unearthed.
Inews was told that if found guilty of perjury, the suspect can face a lengthy prison sentence.
Over the last several months, relatives and associates of Bisram, both local and foreign, have been accused of using various means to obtain the silence of witnesses. Bisram is suspected to be the ‘mastermind’ in the brutal murder of 27-year-old Number 70 Village Corentyne carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt.
In July, a 16-year-old key witness that was expected to testify against Bisram was reportedly given poisoned food by a relative of the alleged mastermind. Days after, the same attorney-at-law, who was not on record for representing the five accused for the murder, was taken into custody in late July after State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings had accused him of obstructing the course of justice in the midst of court proceedings.
Earlier this month, New York Judge Peggy Kuo found that the Government of Guyana had substantiated its request for Bisram’s extradition with adequate documents. He has been incarcerated in a New York holding facility until the resolution of technical facets with the process. This newspaper understands that the necessary preparations are still being made to formally hand him over to local authorities.
Bisram, 27, was charged in absentia last year for the murder of Narinedatt. Two of the accused had reportedly confessed to investigators that they were ordered by the overseas-based Guyanese businessman to kill Narinedatt, after which they reportedly dumped his body on the Number 70 Village public road to make his death seem the result of a hit-and-run accident.
The five men charged for the November 1, 2016, killing of Narinedatt were Radesh Motie, 39; Diadatt Datt, 18; Harri Paul Parsram, 49; Orlando Dickie, and Niran Yacoob, 37.
Additionally, the businessman’s mother and sister were also charged and remanded to prison after they allegedly offered bribes to Police ranks to “duck the case”.
Shinella Indarally, 45, and Mary Anne Lionel, 25, both of Lot 171 Section ‘B’ No 71 Village, Corentyne, were charged for deliberately attempting to obstruct the course of justice. It was reported that they offered a police corporal $4 million to release the four men who were detained for the murder, and to cease efforts to apprehend Bisram.
Bisram had reportedly made sexual advances to the now dead Narinedatt, but was rejected as the carpenter had slapped him several times. Out of embarrassment, Bisram allegedly instructed his associates to “get rid” of the father of two.
