Police Force says alleged mastermind of GECOM fire was not ‘abducted’

See below full statement issued by the Guyana Police Force:

The Guyana Police Force is responding to a statement issued Friday, July 09, 2021, from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in relation to the arrest by the police of William Roy Marshall, 51 years, of Lot 232 Independence Avenue, MacKenzie Linden, which occurred at his home.

According to the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, William Marshall’s wife has reported that he was forcefully abducted from his home by persons dressed in plain clothes and claiming to be officers of the Guyana Police Force, but who produced no identification or warrant, in what the APNU + AFC Coalition claims to be “the unconstitutional abduction” of a citizen.

The GPF is categorically refuting these allegations and in setting the records straight,  from the outset, states that William Marshall, who is a driver attached to the Chairman of Region 10, is a suspect in the burning of the GECOM Registration Office which occurred on July 14, 2020, at Wismar, Linden.

This matter is being investigated by police ranks from CID Headquarters,  Eve Leary, and the Regional Police Division. The investigations have led to the arrest of Byron Kendall, 48 years, of Kara Kara, Linden; Teon February, 22 years, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden; and Marlon Hunter, 20 years, of Silvertown, Wismar, between July 04 and 08, 2021.

Further intelligence led to William Marshall also being identified as a suspect in the burning of the GECOM Registration Office and to his arrest by the police, and not unconstitutional abduction as referred to by the APNU + AFC Coalition, during last night Thursday, July 08, 2021.

In effecting the arrest of William Marshall police ranks, comprising both ranks in uniform and in plain clothes, went to his home at about 2325h. last night. Upon the police knocking on the door of the house William Marshall looked through a window and saw the police ranks. He then opened the door and while standing in the entrance he was informed that he was wanted by the police for a matter under investigation and was arrested.

Byron Kendall, Teon February and Marlon Hunter have been charged with Setting Fire to a Building. They appeared Friday July 09, 2021, at the Linden Magistrate Court, via Zoom, before Magistrate Ms. Wanda Fortune, and have been remanded to prison until July 30, 2021.

William Marshall is still in police custody, while the investigations continue.

—-END—-