DIAMONDS reportedly worth $54 million belonging to Ronald Khan vanished from police custody since 1994. This case was scheduled to commence on Thursday before Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln at the Demerara High Court, but due to the inability to produce several court documents, the trial was postponed to Wednesday, October 24.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that this trial was ordered by the judge after the State failed to offer settlement to Khan who is suing them, claiming that the police seized his diamonds after investigating a robbery that occurred in the mining community of Ekereku, located in Region Seven, since 1994. He stated that his diamonds were never returned to him.

The plaintiff, who is represent by attorney Nigel Hughes, was ordered to file a witness statement (affidavit), no later than June 22, 2018, and the State, which is being represented by Solicitor General Kim Kyte-Thomas, was given until July 06, 2018, to file submissions based on the statement.

However, Hughes stated before the court that the witness statement was filed late on Tuesday afternoon (August 21), almost two months after the date specified by the court, and since Wednesday was a national holiday, the Solicitor General indicated to the court that she had not received a copy of the affidavit. As such, the Solicitor General requested that the trial be adjourned so as to facilitate her with time to retrieve a copy of the witness statement.

Attorney Hughes explained that his client had lost sight in one of his eyes as a result of the robbery and was ill for a period of time. Because of that illness he was unable to give his statement.

Justice Corbin-Lincoln said: “This is unfortunate. We will have to take another adjournment.” The trial was adjourned and the State was ordered by the court to produce documents that date back to 1994, related to the case.