DIRECTOR of National Border Patrol and former Region Four Chairman, Daniel Seeram, has appealed his conviction for assaulting his former wife, asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the magistrate’s decision and grant him bail pending sentencing on November 2.

In a notice of appeal filed through attorney Nigel Hughes, Seeram challenged the October 2 decision of Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.

The notice asked that the decision be “wholly reversed, set aside and/or discharged” and that judgement be entered in Seeram’s favour.

It also sought an order quashing Magistrate Gibbs’ decision to remand him until November 2, 2026, and requested that he be admitted to bail “upon such conditions as may seem appropriate to this Honourable Court” pending his sentencing hearing.

The appeal outlined 20 grounds, arguing that the magistrate made errors in law and in her assessment of the evidence. It described the decision as “unsafe and unsatisfactory in all the circumstances” and contended that the errors resulted in “a substantial miscarriage of justice”.

One of the principal grounds was that Magistrate Gibbs failed to direct herself adequately on the law of self-defence.

Hughes also argued that she misdirected herself on the burden and standard of proof by requiring Seeram’s account to raise reasonable doubt and relying on his failure to explain how the complainant sustained her injuries.

The notice challenged the magistrate’s treatment of Seeram’s evidence that there had been two separate struggles with his former wife.

According to the appeal, he testified that he pushed her away during an initial struggle in the hallway and pushed her again when she pulled on his chain, which broke before she fell.

His lawyer argued that Magistrate Gibbs misrepresented the evidence by describing it as the “one push” and concluding that the force used “extended beyond the single push he described”.

The appeal also disputed the assessment of the complainant’s credibility, citing alleged inconsistencies involving injuries to her wrist, breast and temple, as well as her delayed disclosure of a firearm. It contended that the magistrate accepted the complainant as “a witness of truth” without adequately considering those matters.

Hughes further challenged the admission and treatment of the complainant’s medical certificate, arguing that the doctor who prepared it was not called to testify and that the certificate was tendered through a police witness who was not present during the examination.

The notice also questioned the reliance on photographs said to show an injury to the complainant’s temple, which it said was not recorded in the medical certificate.

The appeal argued that the magistrate failed to give adequate weight to evidence from Sergeant Dunn, including that Seeram reported the incident to police first, had visible injuries and showed the officer a broken chain.

It further alleged that the magistrate relied on counsel’s suggestions that were not evidence, drew adverse inferences from Seeram’s answers, and failed to explain her conclusions on issues.

The notice said the court had not properly considered the complainant’s account alongside the medical certificate.

Seeram also reserved the right to amend the grounds or file additional grounds after receiving the certified record of proceedings, notes of evidence and exhibits. The appeal sought any further relief the Court of Appeal considered just.

The notice also challenged the magistrate’s refusal to reconsider the remand order, making the request for bail a specific part of the relief sought from the appellate court.

Seeram’s appeal against his conviction followed a High Court ruling in which Justice Joy Persaud-Singh dismissed his application for judicial review and upheld Magistrate Gibb’s decision to keep him in custody pending sentencing.

Hughes had argued that the magistrate effectively prejudged the sentence by remanding Seeram before receiving the probation report, victim impact statement and submissions on aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

He also challenged her reliance on Section 9 of the Bail Act, arguing that it concerned bail pending an appeal and did not apply because Seeram had not yet appealed his conviction.

Deputy Solicitor General Shoshana Lall, who appeared for the respondents, agreed with the defence that Section 9 of the Bail Act was not applicable and argued that the magistrate had erred in treating the offence as carrying a mandatory term of imprisonment.

She also submitted that there was no new evidence to suggest that Seeram posed a flight risk or that circumstances had materially changed since he was initially granted bail.

The judge dismissed Seeram’s application for judicial review, finding no grounds to conclude that Magistrate Abigail Gibbs had acted unlawfully, irrationally or beyond her jurisdiction in ordering him remanded to prison pending sentencing.

The criminal charge stems from an incident on September 11, 2023, at the Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown residence Seeram and his then-wife shared.

Seeram was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm. When the matter was initially brought before the court, he pleaded not guilty and was granted $50,000 bail.

According to reports at the time, the incident occurred around 03:00 hours after Seeram returned home and an argument developed between him and his then wife.

The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation, with reports indicating that both parties were involved in a scuffle.

Seeram was also accused of brandishing his licensed firearm during the confrontation.

His then-wife subsequently went to the Turkeyen Police Station and made a report.

Police later reported that visible marks of violence were observed on her body.
The investigation was subsequently referred for legal advice, after which the Director of Public Prosecutions advised that Seeram be charged.

At the time of the incident and his arrest, Seeram was an executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Chairman of Region Four.

A former captain of the Guyana Defence Force, Seeram later defected to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the run-up to the 2025 general and regional elections. He has since served as Director of National Border Patrol.