After spending two nights in the Police lock-up…
PARDONED treason accused Mark Benschop and Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon were yesterday slapped with two obstruction charges.

They appeared before Magistrate Chandra Sohan and were each put on $1 bail after pleading not guilty.

Particulars of the offences alleged against them said, on December 21, they, wilfully, remained on Cemetery Road, Georgetown, in such a way to obstruct traffic and obstructed municipal workers at the Le Repentir landfill site from performing their duties.
Police Sergeant Phillip Sheriff, prosecuting, objected to the defendants being released on their own recognisances and said cash security would ensure they return for trial.

Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes told the Court he hoped to expose the malice in the charges.

He noted that the offences would not attract custodial penalties but the authorities incarcerated the duo in Brickdam lock-ups for bailable crimes.

The lawyer claimed social and political activist Benschop was merely seeking to attract the attention of the authorities to the effects of the landfill site as a matter of grave concern.

He contended that the defendants’ rights were violated because they had already spent two nights in custody and the municipal by-law breach is punishable by a $100 fine while the obstruction by pedestrian charge carries a maximum penalty of $7,500.

Benschop and Kissoon were ordered to return to Court on February 9, 2011.
Their prosecution followed the allegation that Benschop sat in front of the western gate of Le Repentir Cemetery and prevented garbage trucks from entering the landfill site, protesting that it posed grave environmental and health hazards to communities in the vicinity.