GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Wednesday April 3, 2013 – A 17 year-old Irish youth will re-appear in court on April 30 on a charge of threatening to assassinate President Donald Ramotar.
Cillian James Crosson, a volunteer teacher at Shulinab, Rupununi, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman, who released him on GUY$60,000 (One Guyana dollar = US$0.01 cents) bail.
The court heard that Crosson, who arrived here last August through the organization Project Trust, allegedly made the threat to shoot President Ramotar in the head on March 29 at City Boy Club at Tabatinga in Lethem.
Crosson pleaded not guilty to the charge and according to Nigel Dharamlall, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the accused repeated the threat during a conversation with him.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to bail on the grounds that a threat was made against the head of state and that Crosson was not a Guyanese national. But his attorney, Glen Hanoman argued that his client was drunk and not accustomed to the local alcohol.
In granting bail, Magistrate Latchman ordered that Crosson report every Monday to the Lethem police station pending the outcome of the matter.
Tuesday’s court hearing was observed by representatives of the European High Commission and the Irish Consulate.