The Guyana Police Force has announced its intention to pursue extradition proceedings against New York based, Guyanese political activist, Rickford Burke, over allegations of extortion.

The announcement by the Police came one day after Acting Chief Justice Roxane George declared the charge of criminal defamation libel to be unconstitutional. The Police had filed the charge against Mr. Burke in local Courts. It was dismissed by the Chief Justice in her ruling.

In that ruling, the Acting Chief Justice also hammered the Guyana Police Force over its attempt to serve a summons on the activist in New York.

In a statement on Saturday night, the Guyana Police Force said notwithstanding the ruling by the Chief Justice, it maintains that it is in possession of “cogent, compelling, and irrefutable evidence that Rickford Burke has engaged in the conduct of extorting money from a local businessman”.

The Police said the matter is under review and and legal advice is being sought on the institution of new charges, noting that since Mr. Burke remains outside of the jurisdiction of Guyana, extradition proceedings will be pursued under the Fugitive Offenders Act.

The allegations against Mr. Burke stem from him allegedly using his social media pages to highlight concerns from aggrieved customers about vehicles bought at BM Soat Auto Sales in Lusignan.

In her ruling against the criminal defamation libel charge, the Acting Chief Justice noted that Mr. Burke has been living out of Guyana and has not visited Guyana for the past 27 years, which was not disputed by the Police or the Immigration Department. She questioned how in that charge, he could be accused of committing a crime at Lusignan recently when he has not been in the country in more than two and a half decades.

In roasting the Police over its decision to send one of its officers to a foreign jurisdiction to serve a summons, Justice George noted that the move was unlawful and the summons would have no legal bearing outside the jurisdiction of Guyana.

“The Court frowns on the course of action taken by the prosecution and the Guyana Police Force to in effect send an officer on a frolic on what must have been a taxpayer’s expense”, she stated.

The Acting Chief Justice said the Laws of Guyana provide for the return of persons who are accused of criminal offences through the Fugitive Offenders Act and with all of the legislative requirements being followed.

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