The Attorney for the Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed is disputing the allegations that Mohamed or any of his staffers fired a gun near the home of Special Branch Head, Prem Narine late last night, leading to their arrest.

Attorney Siand Dhurjon described the reports as absurd, as he rubbished a statement from the Police on the arrests.

According to the Police, the Head of the Police Force’s Special Branch , Prem Narine, discharged several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of a car that was carrying the Opposition Leader.

He claimed that the car had been circling his Kitty home and he had heard a sound that appeared to be a gunshot.

But speaking to reporters today, Mohamed’s Attorney questioned the logics of the explanation proffered by the Guyana Police Force in the defence of the move by the Special Branch Head to open fire at the Opposition Leader.

“How absurd is it that the Opposition Leader would drive pass the house of the head of a police agency, where there are two police vehicles outside parked around the clock, filled with police ranks? How absurd is it that he knows that if he sneezes funny the police will stop him, search him, arrest him? How absurd is it that he would take that opportunity to fire shots outside of the house at this head of the police agency?” Dhurjon questioned.

He said the actions of the Special Branch Head “was a crass display of law enforcement seeking to suppress political opposition.”

Dhurjon said Narine and the other ranks demonstrated a complete disregard for the sanctity of life, and the rule of law.

At the Kitty Police Station where Mohamed and his workers were taken into custody, the police reported that a gun was found in the car that was carrying the Opposition Leader and his two workers.

The Attorney said there was no gun found in the car when it was initially searched.

“This vehicle was searched on at least two occasions. It was searched when the police intercepted it at the junction of Sandy Babb and Vlissingen Road when Mr Prem Narine and his ranks stopped the car. They pushed the occupants to the ground, they stomped them, they subdued them, they searched the car thoroughly, nothing was found. The car was taken to Kitty Police Station. A dog was brought in. We spent five minutes walking around the car, inspecting the inside, inspecting the outside, nothing was found. When I turned my back for 10 seconds, a gun appears,” he told reporters.

According to Dhurjon, the gun appeared out of thin air. Noting that the matter remains under investigation, Dhurjon said should his clients be charged, he would take the opportunity to vindicate them in the Court of Law, but said it would be baseless to charge them in the absence of evidence.

Meanwhile, at the Kitty Police Station where Mohamed and his workers are being held, a small number of his supporters and fellow Members of Parliament gathered outside in protest.

Member of Parliament and General Secretary for the WIN party, Odessa Primus said there was a clear attempt to take the life of the Opposition Leader.

“We have moved from Special Branch following the Leader of the Opposition. We have moved from unlawful arrest. We have moved from unlawful seizure of vehicles to now an attempt assassination on the life of the Leader of the Opposition,” Primus said.

She said the actions of the State are unacceptable and represent a “terrible” precedent.

Accusing the Government of weaponizing the Police Force against its political opponents, MP Primus said Guyanese are now facing a “scary” reality under the Irfaan Ali regime.

“This has moved beyond sanctions. Oh he is sanctioned so we are going to close down his businesses. But now it has moved to trying to take his life, and for me that is very scary,” she said.

MP Primus said Guyana’s democracy is under threat and Guyanese and the International Community must not be silent on the issue.

Related posts:

Opposition Leader and two others arrested following gunfire incident near home of Special Branch Head Special Branch Head maintains Mohamed is a threat to Guyana in extradition testimony Special Branch head tells Court he investigated alleged links of Mohameds to murder and other serious crimes Special Branch Head tells Court he considers Azruddin Mohamed a threat to national security