Benschop
admits being in OP; ‘wants
Government removed’
By
George Barclay
Magistrate
Chandra Sohan, the last witness for the Prosecution
in the Mark Benschop treason trial, revealed yesterday
that the accused had admitted by inference in his
statement from the dock that he was at the scene at the
Presidential Complex on the day of the incident.
Magistrate Sohan, who conducted the Preliminary Inquiry
(PI), was called by the Prosecution to testify about an
address Benschop had made before committal. He had been
asked by the Magistrate whether he had anything to say
in his defence, and was cautioned that whatever he said
would be taken down and used at his trial.
Benschop had made an address, which lasted over four
hours, but the Prosecution led by Mr. Sanjeev Datadin
with Mr. Anil Nandlall, had named certain sentences,
which they wished to use. And the judge granted their
application to call the Magistrate to testify about the
relative contents of Benschop’s address.
According to the Magistrate, Benschop had said among
other things, "This country will never have peace
until we have a proper political system. All the
citizens, i.e., my black brothers, will have to find a
way to rid themselves of this racist corrupt Government.
We will have a proper Chief Judge and Chancellor.
"I have done nothing wrong that day. I am innocent.
I saw Presidential Guards round up persons in the
compound that day and placed them in the Accounts
Department and cold-bloodedly shot them in the presence
of Dr. Roger Luncheon.
"I was never at the PSM (People's Solidarity
Movement) meeting. They wanted me for the information I
have against them," Benschop is reported to have
said.
Prior
to the granting of the application to lead the evidence,
Mr. Datadin had told the Court that the object of the
Prosecution in requesting the portions of Benschop's
address was to put him (Benschop) on the scene and to
assist the Prosecution in establishing the element of
the charge and the intention to overthrow the
Government.
On the other hand, the Defence, headed by Mr. Basil
Williams associated with Mr. Mortimer Coddett, Mr.
Linden Amsterdam, Ms Carol Martindale-Howard and Ms
Emily Dodson, accused the Prosecution of truncating the
address to suit the Prosecution. They submitted that the
entire address be admitted in evidence so that the jury
would hear and understand everything.
Justice Moore said that he would grant the application
for the entire statement to be admitted, but he reserved
the right to reject things that were “scandalous”.
Mark Benschop is charged with having formed an intention
to overthrow by force the Government of Guyana on July
3, 2002.
During the trial, the Prosecution led evidence to show
that one-time co-conspirator Phillip Bynoe had, at a
meeting prior to July 3, 2002, at which Benschop was
absent, told his gathering about a planned march by him
(Bynoe) on July 3, 2002 to get rid of President Jagdeo
and overthrow the Government.
When the trial resumes this morning, the Defence will
begin making no-case submissions in the absence of the
jury with the object of convincing the judge that the
Prosecution had failed to make out a case of treason for
the accused to answer.
