OMAR Bacchus is the longest-serving remand prisoner at the New Amsterdam penitentiary. He was admitted to the penal institution on September 5, 2008, and has been committed to stand trial for murder at the Berbice Assizes since December 21, 2011.On several occasions, the 23 year old had indicated in writing his willingness to plead guilty to the offence for which he has been indicted. But although he has so done, the State has been unable to proceed with his case, thus he has been incarcerated for seven years and one month.

Questioned about the status of the case, State Prosecutor Ms. Natasha Backer said the case was referred to the lower court for rectification, but the matter has since seemingly been lost in the system. However, while the State seeks to find the deposition, the prisoner continues to languish in prison.

Prison sources have said that Bacchus has no relative to look into his interest. Legal practitioners noted that Bacchus has already served a sentence, having spent more than seven years as a remand prisoner. As such, they suggest, the Director of Public Prosecutions should treat Bacchus’s matter as nolle prosequi.

“It’s not his fault that his matter is delayed. It’s the State’s; and as a result, the man should be freed. He has already served over a 10-year prison sentence,” remarked an attorney who spoke to this publication anonymously.

Narvin Sugrim and Ravendranauth Mohanlall, both indicted for murder, have each spent four years as remand prisoners. They have been committed in 2011 and 2012 respectively. They are still awaiting trials, according to Kevin Pilgrim, Superintendent of Prisons, during a Gaol Delivery at the Berbice Assizes.

The officer in charge noted that Omar Bacchus and Navin Sugrim, along with fellow inmates Roy Lewis and Charles Goodluck, have all submitted voluntary statements supporting their requests to plead.

Apart from those four inmates, 28 male prisoners are requesting early trials during the October criminal sessions of the Berbice Assizes. Of a list of 32 committed prisoners, 27, including four teenagers, are listed to be tried for murder; one has been listed for attempted murder; two for sexual penetration; one for rape, and one for unlawful and malicious wounding.