Death row inmate charged with abduction

Kaieteur News – April 1, 2008

A prisoner, who is condemned to die for a murder committed in 2004, yesterday appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle on charges of abduction. Mark Anthony Wong, 28, is accused of abducting Susan Jatan on Monday January 30, 2006 on Water Street.

Wong, who was out on bail after the murder charge was reduced to manslaughter, forcefully took Jatan into a 4X4 pick-up vehicle two years ago.

The convicted prisoner was recommitted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for murder and was subsequently sentenced to death by Appeal Court Judge (former High Court Judge) Yonette Cummings-Edwards in May last year.

When Wong appeared in court yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court he was instructed that the charge was indictable and he was not required to plead.

Fish vendor remanded on abduction charge

Kaieteur News – April 1, 2008

A fish vendor of Montrose, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of abducting a female. The accused, 38-year-old Alfred Sooklall, appeared before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.  It is alleged that on Friday March 28 last, on Smyth Street, he forced Nadira Baijnauth into his motor vehicle.

The charge was indictable and as such the accused was not required to plead. At the beginning of the court proceedings, Sooklall’s lawyer, Peter Hugh, indicated to the court that Baijnauth indicated that she would not be offering any evidence to the court against the accused since they shared a relationship. However, when asked by the Magistrate if this is so, Baijnauth admitted that she would not be offering evidence but expressed a fear of being interfered with by the accused.

To this, Sooklall’s lawyer gave an undertaking that if bail is granted the accused would not have any contact whatsoever with Baijnauth until the matter is over with. He added that he was in receipt of instructions from his client which he will disclose to the court in due course. However, Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews objected to bail on the grounds that if bail is granted, it is highly likely that the accused will interfere with Baijnauth, whose life will be at risk. Sooklall’s lawyer then interjected, noting that Baijnauth and the accused ended their relationship amicably and he is still committed to his common law union which he has been sharing with another woman for the past 21 years.

However, after listening to both parties, the Magistrate ruled in favour of the prosecution. The accused will return to court on April 7.

Remanded on kidnapping charge

Stabroek News – April 1, 2008

A 38-year-old-man was remanded on a charge of abduction when he appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday. Alfred Sooklall of 158 Montrose, East Coast Demerara allegedly forced a woman into his car last Friday at Smyth Street, Georgetown.

The man’s lawyer Peter Hugh told the court that the virtual complainant (VC) did not wish to move forward with the matter and his client was willing to stay away from the VC from now.

The VC, who was present in court, told the magistrate that this was so, but she required a restraining order against the accused.

Prosecutor Sherwin Mathews objected to bail on the grounds that the accused would interfere with the VC if allowed out on bail before the restraining order was in force.

Sooklall was remanded until April 7.