“I had no lawyer during my detention period” Businessman Wasim Khan

Wasim Khan, the East Coast Demerara businessman who is at the center of a “war of letters” between Assistant Commissioners of Police Wendell Blanhum and Khali Pareshram said that during the time of his arrest and detention at the Beterverwagting Police Station, he did not retain the services of any Attorney at Law as he did not see the need at that time and more particularly, that of Latchmi Rahamat, the wife of Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.

At the time of his arrest six weeks ago, Khan said his licensed firearm was taken away as the police were investigating the circumstances surrounding a 6-year-old girl being struck by a stray bullet as she slept in her parents’ home.

Khan said he remained at the police station from 06:30 that morning until 05:30 when he was told that his weapon was tested and preliminary results showed no evidence that his weapon was the one that fired the bullet that struck the child and that he was being placed on bail.

He said the police brought a paper for him to sign before heading out. That paper he recalled, stated that he was being placed on bail for discharging a loaded firearm, the businessman said he refused to sign the document which to his mind,  was incriminating since he did not discharge his weapon.

Wasim Kahn told BIG Smith News Watch after he was placed on bail, he kept returning to the police station to uplift his weapon but was unsuccessful. According to him, he was then advised to seek the services of a lawyer who should write to the Commissioner of Police to seek the return of his weapon.

Khan said on Tuesday, August 06, 2024,  he visited the law office of Latchmie Rahamat to retain her services and have her write the Commissioner of Police on his behalf requesting the return of the weapon. According to Khan, the staff told him Rahamat was out of the jurisdiction.