Sergeant Bascom gets $300,000 bail on cyberbullying charges
Police Sergeant Dion Bascom, who made damming allegations last month against several persons within the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was slapped with three cyberbullying charges and released on bail on Wednesday.
Bascom was hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The first charge alleges that on August 13, 2022, at Eve Leary, Georgetown, he used a computer system to transmit electronic data with the intent to humiliate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to Superintendent Mitchell Ceasar.
The second charge states that on August 19, 2022, at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, he used a computer system to transmit electronic data with the intent to humiliate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to Superintendent Chabinauth Singh.
The last charge states that on the same day, at the same location, he used a computer system to transmit electronic data with the intent to humiliate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to Superintendent Mitchell Ceasar.
Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore objected to the Sergeant being released on bail due to the seriousness of the crime. But Bascom’s lawyer asked for his client to be released on bail, noting that he will compile with any condition.
As such, the Chief Magistrate released Bascom on $100,000 bail on each count, and the matter was adjourned to September 21.
Bascom had to lodge his passport and report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters every other Friday as a condition for bail.
Sergeant Bascom took social media by a storm last month, hours after he was released from Police custody after being arrested in connection with a drug bust at a Norton Street, Georgetown residence.
He had claimed that there was a conspiracy to kill him and cover up the murder of Ricardo Fagundes, known as ‘Paper Shorts.’
Fagundes was riddled with bullets in March 2021 as he exited the Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown.
In fact, Bascom fingered several members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for taking a bribe to cover up Fagundes’ murder while noting that there was a conspiracy to kill him.
Superintendent Caesar and city businessman Azruddin Mohamed had sent Bascom a lawyer’s letter, demanding a public apology and financial compensation.
However, Sergeant Bascom said he stands by his statement while noting that he has evidence to prove his case.
Mohamed then moved to the High Court and slapped Bascom with a 200 million lawsuit. Last Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs disclosed that the Regional Security System (RSS) had found no evidence of corrupt practices or any attempt to cover up Fagundes’ murder.
