TWENTY-nine-year old Rohbina Basdeoram who is on bail from the High Court for the January 2015 cocaine bust in the VIP Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, has once again found herself in hot water.Yesterday the police searched a house on the railway embankment, as a result of which the woman and her brother and others were arrested after the police discovered one.38 pistol and several rounds of ammunition and two magazines.
Additionally, the police in a search of the home also stumbled on 120 counterfeit Automated Teller Machine Cards (ATM) in the house. What was distinctive about the card however, is that they all carried the magnetic strip at the back, but not the individual serial numbers that a bank usually stamps onto the card.

Crime Chief, Wendel Blanhum confirmed the discovery and the operation, which he said was carried out by detectives of the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, Eve Leary.
It was only hours prior to the operation that the crime chief had lamented to reporters, the frustration faced by police ranks when the High Court grants bail to persons who are accused of serious crimes.
He was however quick to point out that the decision of the courts to grant the bail is outside of the Force’s ambit and the organisation also understands that it may also have to do with the number of backlogged cases the courts have to address.
The issues of backlogged cases and overcrowding at the prisons have long been a cause for concern for the Guyana Police Force, rights groups and the judiciary.
The point has often been made for there to be a system whereby persons charged for minor offences are ordered to do community service. This would help to create space in the prisons to accommodate those who are accused of the most serious crimes.
Recently, President David Granger pardoned several first-time offenders who were in prison awaiting their day in court, but came in for harsh criticism for that initiative.
His initiative however was not as harshly criticised as the move by former President Donald Ramotar to quietly pardon Ravindra Deo, who was serving time for brutally kidnapping and murdering an eight-year-old boy. Deo was pardoned days before Ramotar demitted office.

By Leroy Smith