Benschop is jointly charged with Phillip Bynoe for allegedly conspiring with others to forcibly and unlawfully enter the Office of the President (OP) compound in Georgetown and being present and encouraging others, by word and conduct, to storm the premises on July 3, 2002.

After his committal, political activist Benschop expressed the hope that the magistrate would have the depositions taken at the preliminary inquiry (PI) typed in time for his case to be presented at the next criminal sessions.

Magistrate Sohan overruled Defence no-case submissions and declared that a prima facie case had been made out by the Prosecution and there was evidence the accused was born in Guyana and, therefore, is a citizen of this country who owes allegiance to the State.

Mr. Sohan referred to the testimony of Chief Elections Officer Gocool Boodhoo, that People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was declared winner of the 2001 general elections and, by virtue of those results, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo was elected President and remains so until the High Court or other tribunal reverses that declaration.

The magistrate said other witnesses testified that co-accused Bynoe spoke about overthrowing the present Government on July 3, 2002 and was part of a procession on East Coast Demerara which continued despite being advised by Police that the gathering was unlawful.

Noting the significance of both accused being at the same place at the same time, Mr. Sohan said a witness placed Bynoe at the gate of the Presidential Complex in New Garden Street, Georgetown, signalling or directing persons in the procession to go in whilst Benschop was on the street telling persons, with the aid of a loud hailer, to “break down the gate, go in and take over…the guards cannot shoot.”

Magistrate Sohan noted that the Defence called three witnesses whose evidence did not detract anything from the case for the Prosecution.

When asked, by the magistrate, whether he had anything further to state, Benschop launched a tongue lashing exercise that lasted about four hours.

The Government, the judicial system, judges, magistrates and the Press were all attacked by the prisoner who declared that the tears of his supporters, family and friends will fall on his persecutors, among whom he included Magistrate Sohan, suggesting the last should resign and join his family in Canada.