Two Guyanese men who were jointly facing a terrorism charge alongside a Venezuelan woman for allegedly aiding the prime suspect in the October 2025 Gas Station Bombing, walked free today after Magistrate Alisha George upheld the Defense’s no case submission.

The Court found that there was insufficient evidence to link the men – Wayne Corriea and Ramesh Pramdeo – to the crime. However, Venezuelan national, Jennifer Rodrigues was committed to stand trial in the High Court based on the evidence before the Court.

Magistrate George handed down the ruling today in the Leonora Magistrates’ Court bringing an end to the paper committal proceedings in that Court.

During the proceedings, a total of 244 statements and exhibits were tendered. However, counsel for both Corriea and Pramdeo advanced no case submissions on the grounds of insufficient evidence, while Counsel for Rodrigues opted not to pursue such submission.

Magistrate George, in her analysis, found that approximately 85% of the statements and exhibits presented to the court related to the alleged principal offender Daniel Ramirez Poedemo also known as Kenny, and the others charged.

She said the evidence against Mr. Corriea and Mr. Pramdeo is peripheral.

Magistrate George said the evidence before the Court established that Alexander Bettencourt, another accused, contacted Corriea regarding a boat engine, and subsequently requested a taxi driver’s contact. Corriea then provided Pramdeo’s contact information, however, Magistrate George ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that Corriea knew the intentions of the prime suspect.

“The prosecution relies heavily on alleged inconsistencies in Mr Corriea’s account, including the absence of call records. However, there is: no evidence that Mr Corriea knew of any plan to commit terrorism; no evidence that he intended, by his actions, to assist or encourage such an offence; no evidential basis upon which the only reasonable inference is guilt. At its highest, the evidence gives rise to suspicion. It is equally consistent with innocent conduct,” Magistrate George said in her ruling.

She said a prima facie case had not been made out against Corriea, noting that the prosecution failed to establish evidence of knowledge or intent required for aiding and abetting.

Similarly, she said in the case of Pramdeo, the Prosecution failed to establish the requisite participation and as such, he too was discharged.

It was Pramdeo who collected Bettencourt and Poedemo from Parika and transported them to a hotel. However, the Court ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that he knew of the intended plan to bomb the gas station.

“There is no evidence that: he knew of any planned criminal activity; he intended to assist or facilitated terrorism; his actions were anything other than those of a service provider acting in ordinary circumstances. The evidence is equally consistent with him being an innocent agent or unsuspecting participant,” Magistrate George found.

In the case of Rodrigues, the Magistrate said although there was no submission of insufficient evidence pursued on her behalf, the Court opted to independently assess the evidence.

Based on the evidence, the Court found that Rodrigues provided assistance to Poedomo after he committed the alleged offence, at a time when she was aware that he was wanted by the police in connection with the bombing.

“The evidence taken at its highest is sufficient to establish knowledge and intentional assistance after the fact, thereby satisfying the threshold required at the committal stage,” Magistrate George said.

The Magistrate said there is sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable jury, properly directed, could convict, and as such, Rodrigues was committed to stand trial.

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