Mark Benschop, wanted by police after last week's storming of the Office of the President (OP), yesterday presented himself before acting Chief Magistrate, Juliet Holder-Allen, to face charges of forcible entry, aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring the committal of forcible entry, riotous damage to property and taking part in an illegal procession.
A warrant had been issued by the magistrate on Tuesday for the arrest of Benschop and also for Phillip Bynoe, who are both charged along with nineteen other persons, held after the procession led by Bynoe had stormed OP, terrorising staff and damaging office equipment.
The incident spiralled out of control resulting in the death of two persons and the arrest of a number of persons alleged to have been involved in the incident.
Benschop, who made his way to court accompanied by United Nations employee, Lawrence Lachmansingh, while not required to plead to the three indictable charges, pleaded not guilty to the summary charge of taking part in an illegal procession. Benschop had said that he would turn up to face the charges as long as he was in the company of a UN representative.
Appearing for Benschop were attorneys Basil Williams, Mortimer Coddette, Roysdale Forde, Shawn Allicock, Emily Dodson, and Rafael Trotman.
Making an application for bail, Williams told the court his client had suffered enough, having his name published in the newspapers and broadcast on television as a wanted fugitive. Further, the attorney contended that, based on television footage, his client was nowhere near OP. And since the other nineteen accused were granted bail, the lawyer submitted it would only be fair for his client to be allowed the same privilege.
Following testimony to her husband's character by Maria Benschop and while the Police Prosecutor, acknowledging that the other nineteen accused were indeed granted bail, did not object to bail, the magistrate noted that Benschop had made the effort to come to court and granted him bail in the sum of $35,000. He will return to court in relation to those charges on July 29 along with the other nineteen accused.
After these proceedings ended, Benschop, surrounded by a crowd of supporters, which had grown considerably by this time despite police barricades on the Avenue of the Republic, on Brickdam and Croal Street, was escorted to the holding area for prisoners while arrangements were made for his bail. It was at this stage the crowd learnt of the intention of the police to take Benschop into custody.
As word of this spread through the crowd, there were shouts of "No Justice!" and "No police will carry Mark nowhere," and "Shame!" as many became upset and directed their anger towards the police. They were continually urged by TV personality Roger Moore to maintain order and to respect the police.
Following negotiations between the police, unwilling to reveal the grounds on which they wanted to hold Benschop, and the attorneys lobbying for their client to be allowed some time with his family, members of the police Target Special Squad made their appearance, much to the agitation of the crowd.
The 'Black Clothes' police were in an open-back truck which was parked within the entrance to the court at Avenue of the Republic, awaiting Benschop's exit.
Benschop at last left the holding area and proceeded to the registry where his bail was lodged and the recognisance for his return to court was signed.
Following this statement, Benschop, accompanied by both his wife and son as well as Coddette, and despite some objections by part of the crowd which flanked him, entered the waiting police vehicle and exited the compound.
Police Public Relations Officer ASP Ramnarine told Stabroek News that Benschop was arrested because of the wanted bulletin which had been issued for him.
He was taken to CID headquarters where he is assisting the police in their investigations. Ramnarine said that it was the police's prerogative to hold him for at least 24 hours while investigations continue.