Two years after two wanted bulletins were issued for him and charges were filed, local Police have served defendant summons to overseas-based Guyanese and political activist Rickford Burke at his New York residence; this essentially requires him to attend court in Guyana.
Burke is wanted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for a series of charges including extortion, sedition and inciting public terror.
Back in September 2022, Burke was implicated by two reporters – Gary Eleazar and Alex Wayne – who were charged and released on bail. They were arrested during a sting operation.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the GPF said two charges were filed against Burke on August 18, 2023 at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.
However, the police said Burke was absent from court.
As such, the magistrate ordered that the ‘defendant summons’ be prepared and served on Burke to attend court on March 28, 2024.
And acting on this, the Police said Assistant Superintendent of Police Rodwell Sarrabo departed Guyana for the United States and the defendant summons was served to Burke.
“On the 16th December 2023, ASP Rodwell Sarrabo met with Mark Wesserman, a Process Server based in the United States of America and they served both defendant summons on Rickford Burke at his home address at Maple Street, Brooklyn, New York. Both defendant summons were read to Rickford Burke and he said he understood,” Police Headquarters stated.
Finally, the Guyana Police Force said it wishes to make it known that a similar course of action will be adopted against persons who are outside of the jurisdiction and engage in criminal conduct.
Burke’s last known addresses are Brooklyn, New York and Bartica.
In a wanted bulletin issued on December 3, 2021, the GPF said Burke is wanted for:
- The excitement of hostility or ill-will on the grounds of Race, under the Racial Hostility Act.
- Sedition under the Cyber Crime Act.
- Use of a computer system to coerce and intimidate a person, under the Cyber Crime Act.
- Seditious Libel contrary to common law.
- Seditious Libel under the peace under the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act
- Inciting public terror under the Criminal Law Offences Act
Following this, another wanted bulletin was issued for Burke on September 29, 2022 in relation to the offence of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Contrary to Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01 with regards to the publication of defamatory libel in order to extort money from Afras Mohammed.
In March 2023, Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall had indicated that Burke will be extradited soon.
It remains unclear whether an extradition request has been made for Burke.
You can run but, you can’t hide- is true.
Guyana has friends in High Places, they would also do anything for their friends.
Just ask EXXON. Or Granger.