Douglas offers 'no comment' on alleged tape
Andrew Douglas, alleged accomplice of the late Linden 'Blackie' London, has stated through Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes that he has no comment to make about a tape purportedly made by him implicating government officials and police officers in crimes. The statement was made yesterday when Douglas, who is charged with committing several high-profile robberies, appeared in court for the continuation of the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the Didco robbery of September 1, last year. Hughes, appearing amicus curiae or as a friend of the court for Douglas, said that "insofar as the tape is concerned," Douglas has "no comment to make." He stated that given the serious allegations on the alleged tape, the defendant has decided that no comment would be forthcoming. The lawyer told Magistrate Dawn Holder-Alert that the accused claimed "top police officials" visited him in prison on Saturday afternoon about 1400 hrs and threatened to slap a murder charge on him if he did not deny making the tape. He said that the threat had been made in the presence of an unnamed prison officer. Hughes said Douglas was "aware of the existing tape and contents of its allegations" and that the wanted man, who had been apprehended in Suriname earlier this month, had expressed serious doubts about his security in prison. The attorney said that Douglas was asking the police to respect his constitutional rights while he was prison and requested that an attorney be present whenever any investigations were being done. As a result, the magistrate requested that as long as the police were conducting further investigation relating to the accused, "then so far as is practicable, the attorney should be informed and be present." Superintendent Gordon Gilhuys, who appeared jointly with Assistant Superintendent Oswald Massiah on the prosecution table, in response to Hughes' allegations that the police had threatened Douglas, called on him to "produce evidence." He said that the prison officer who was present could testify as to whether any threats had been made. Hughes questioned whether an officer was going to testify against another. Attorney-at-law Joseph Harmon, appearing for Toyin Anderson--one of the Douglas' co-accused in the Didco robbery, also complained that his client's rights had been infringed. He recalled that Anderson had alleged that he had been taken out of prison without the court's permission and said that he had written to the Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine, over the alleged "infringement." Harmon said he had not received any reply so far. Yesterday, Detective Sergeant Marlon Chapman of the Criminal Investigations Department, Eve Leary was the third witness to be called in the PI of the Didco robbery. Two employees testified on Friday and the PI is expected to continue today. Douglas of 32 Middle Walk, Friendship, East Coast Demerara, is facing a total of 14 indictable charges relating to the Didco robbery where over $800,000 in cash, jewellery and a firearm were taken; the America Street heist of September 22, 1999 where millions in local and foreign currency was carted off and the National Insurance Scheme robbery of January 10, this year in which bandits escaped with over $13 million in pensions. The charges include attempted murder and robbery under arms. Six persons, included two women--one of them Douglas' reputed wife, are also facing joint and separate charges relating to the robberies. The cambio PI is being heard in front of Chief Magistrate, Paul Fung-A-Fat, while the other two are being heard by Holder-Alert. The cambio PI continues on Thursday, while the NIS hearing continues tomorrow. (Leonard Gildarie)
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