CHAIRMAN of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger, Paul Slowe on Monday denied a Notice of Motion filed on behalf of journalist, Travis Chase, to have retired Justice Ian Chang, the attorney representing the Guyana Police Force (GPF), removed as counsel.

Chase’s attorney, Selwyn Pieters, called for the Commission to “order that Chief Justice (ret’d) Mr. Ian Neville Chang Sc. be removed as Counsel for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) due to conflicts of interest, including being a possible witness in these proceedings.”

The motion was heard in camera at approximately 13:00hrs before Commissioner Slowe and the Commission’s attorney, James Bond. Reporters were asked to remove from the Commission’s room for about 20 minutes to facilitate the in camera hearing. Chase, through his attorney, argued that the Legal Practitioners Act Cap. 4:01 of the Laws of Guyana provides that an attorney shall not devise or represent more than one interest in a matter nor shall he act or continue to act in a matter when there is or is likely to be a conflicting interest; which includes, but is not limited to the financial interest of the attorney or his associate, and his duties and the loyalties of the attorney to any other client or prospective client, including the obligation to communicate information.

The Legislation states further that an attorney shall make adequate disclosure to the client so that he may make an informed decision as to whether he wishes the attorney to act for him despite the presence or possibility of conflicting interest. Pieters elaborated on the content of the legislation and noted that accuser Andriff Gillard who told the Commission that he was offered $7M to assassinate President Granger in 2015 in his evidence dated July 21, 2017 said during cross-examination by Chang that “I have a witness here I would like to put on Mr Chang.”

Slowe in response said, “You would like to call Mr Chang. No problem, there is absolutely no problem whoever you calling with whoever you feel they showing respect to this allegation.” It was at that point that Gillard said, “The character of these people, so the public should know that any, everybody Mr. Imran Khan, Mr Nizam Khan is connected to the mining pit tragedy.”

The accuser said, “These two guys [Imran and Nizam Khan] just wicked because they know they have the law behind them, so they can do anybody anything they feel like. I think these two men in this country are the reason for corruption, because they have the three most reliable, strong backing, the Chief Justice could stop any court matter, the DPP that can cancel any station file or file that went to the court and the Commissioner of Police, the assistant, this gentleman here Mr Ian Chang. These are powerful men, they are friends of course, but they not know the evil demon that they are creating, and people in our community and our Guyanese are suffering.”

As a result of Gillard’s testimony, Pieters argued that Chang could bring the administration of Justice into disrepute. He argued that Chang “has acted a reference for one of the Khan brother’s in a gun licence application.”

He said too that Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, has “a relationship with Imran Khan” and had also called Imran Khan brother of the accused on his cellular phone whilst at CID headquarters and spoke to him in presence of officers. Khan was reportedly behaving in a disorderly manner at the police station.

Moreover, Persaud reportedly called Inspector Prim Narine on a land line phone at CID headquarters and ordered the release of Imran Khan on his own recognizance. The Police Commissioner told the Commission that he did not order his friend’s release but simply gave his subordinate his opinion on the matter. Additionally, Pieters relied on Chang’s decision not to cross-examine Assistant Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, on July 28. Chang told the Commission that “he was in an embarrassing position “and passed on the opportunity to ask questions. He noted that he is representing the Force as an organisation.

On Monday, Chang declined to ask the Police Commissioner questions during cross-examination. Persaud was represented by Attorney Glenn Hanoman. Pieters argued that “the interest of Khan brothers, the Commissioner of Police and the Guyana Police Force are not common interest” and pleaded with the Commission to have Chang recuse himself.