Convicted drug dealers to testify against Roger Khan
- lawyer
Kaieteur News
March 8, 2007
The prosecution has begun to release evidence that it proposes to use against drug accused Shaheed Khan, called Roger Khan, Short Man and Boss Man.
Yesterday, it sent a copy of a recording purporting to have been made by one Sharwin Lilly, who is described as a cooperating witness.
Lilly was arrested with a quantity of cocaine and is now cooperating with the District Attorney.
Khan's lawyer, Robert Simels, said that it would appear that the prosecution is going to use everyone arrested with cocaine and who are now cooperating with the District Attorney, having entered into some plea bargaining arrangement.
He said that the prosecution may place all these people on the stand and get them to testify about the drug trade out of Guyana.
The aim is to have them say that they knew Khan, or knew of him, thus attempting to link him to the drug trade.
Already there is a woman who is prepared to testify that she was associated with Khan.
Meanwhile, Shaheed ‘Roger' Khan has been removed from the most repressive section of the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in the wake of representations by his lawyers. Last week, Simels had protested to the court about the restrictive conditions under which Khan was held.
The judge had given the prosecution up to last week to respond to Simels's charge. The prosecution has since made an ex parte submission justifying the placement of Khan in the restrictive section.
However, Simels said that Khan is now out of the worst part of the prison and that the present location is better, but he is seeking to have Khan out of the restrictive section altogether.
He has also written to the Judge informing her that he was ashamed of how the United States appears to be treating people like Khan, especially since it does not normally treat people in such a manner.
Simels also said that next Monday he would be replying to the prosecution's ex parte contention.
And Simels said that Khan is currently appealing a punishment administered by the Metropolitan Correctional Centre. He said that during a recent visit he had given Khan a piece of gum which the correctional centre deemed to be a prohibitive substance.
Simels said that the centre is however dragging its foot on Khan's appeal and from appearances, by the time the appeal is heard the punishment would have been served, rendering the appeal meaningless.