UPDATED: Troy Thomas extradited to the United States
Extradited: Troy Anthony Thomas
Extradited: Troy Anthony Thomas

..extraditions, an important law enforcement tool- US Embassy

Troy Anthony Thomas, who was wanted in the United States for murder, was on Wednesday extradited to that country.

Thomas, of 32nd Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.A., had tried to fight the extradition since early 2018 when after he was picked up by the police in an early morning raid and has been fighting extradition in the High Court.

The US Embassy in Georgetown noted in a statement that Thomas will be in the custody of the New York Police Department this evening, and tomorrow morning he will appear before an American judge in court, to face charges. “Thomas’s extradition reflects over one year of close coordination between the Government of Guyana and the U.S. Embassy,” the embassy stated.

The Embassy expressed appreciation to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, the Minister of Public Security, and the staff at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, for what it termed their close cooperation and commitment to justice.

“The American Embassy notes this positive step forward and commends the Government of Guyana,” the foreign mission said. Ambassador Lynch said, “The Government of Guyana’s actions over the past year clearly indicate its dedication to law and order and established norms of international criminal justice – Guyana is moving in the right direction. Establishing a roadmap for future extraditions, bringing a fugitive to justice, making Guyana a safer place for Guyanese citizens – this is the best example of rule of law existing in Guyana.”

It was noted that corruption and criminal activity rob the Government of Guyana and citizenry of money that could have been spent on education, health care, and important infrastructure work.

“Extraditions are an important law enforcement tool in fighting transnational criminal organizations. Today, a fugitive from justice is being extradited to the United States to stand trial, creating a new precedent,” the embassy said.

In 2011, Thomas allegedly committed murder and other crimes in New York, then fled to Guyana. In 2018, the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of State sent an extradition request to the Government of Guyana, which the Embassy served to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Guyana Police Force officers apprehended Thomas in 2018, and he has remained in Lusignan prison since then. Thomas exhausted any further right to appeal under the Guyanese constitution at midnight last night.

Reports are that Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels received the order for the extradition today, Wednesday, and acted on same immediately.

The extradition was signed off by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and was in keeping with the fourteen days expiration for an appeal of the ruling by the court.

Thomas has been hiding out in Guyana for a number of years. Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in December ordered that he be extradited to face a charge of murder in that country back in 2011.

Earlier this month, Justice Navindra Singh refused the Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by Troy Thomas at the High Court.

The FDA was filed to challenge the authority of Magistrate  Isaacs-Marcus, to commit Thomas to custody.

The US Department of Justice had requested Thomas be extradited there to stand trial on three criminal charges he allegedly committed in the State of New York.

Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus, issued an arrest warrant for Thomas, who was later arrested and committal proceedings for the purpose of extradition conducted in accordance with the FOA.

Thomas then filed an application at the High Court, contending that the Magistrates’ Court does not have jurisdiction to conduct the committal proceedings. Then presiding judge, Justice Jo Ann Barlow had ruled that the court indeed has jurisdiction on the matter.
An appeal of Justice Barlow’s decision was then filed at the Appellate Court, and is currently still pending.

However, the Magistrates’ Court proceedings continued, and after the conclusion of those proceedings, the magistrate issued a warrant of committal on November 30, 2018, committing Thomas to custody awaiting his extradition.

Thomas has been hiding out in Guyana for sometime and later developed a relationship with a popular social media figure; he was arrested while in her company.(Leroy Smith)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.