Reeaz Khan estimates damage to property at $14.9M - says he paid $10,000 to police for protection Stabroek News September 9, 1999 Businessman Reeaz Khan on Tuesday testified before the Commission of Enquiry into incidents during the public service strike that on the same day a rocket grenade blasted his business, he received a call threatening that there were worse things to come in Guyana. The businessman gave this testimony on what was expected to be the penultimate day of hearings. Testifying before Commissioner Justice Carl Singh, Khan said that two days later, a large crowd stoned his building. According to the businessman, the combined damage from the two incidents amounted to around $14,985,000. Led by counsel to the commission, Mortimer Cumberbatch, Khan relived the two incidents. He recalled that he first learned of the grenade blast at around 2445 hrs on June 14. According to Khan, he proceeded from his Eccles home to his Camp Street business--Reeaz Trading Enterprises--where he saw a huge hole in the steel doors that guarded the main entrance. The businessman said that even from outside, it was obvious that damage to the building was extensive and included two shattered show windows. In addition to a crowd around the building, Khan said, police officers, army officers and bomb experts as well as officers from the Fire Brigade had gathered there. Khan testified that he left them at the store and travelled to his home where he received the threatening call from the unknown person. He said that he reported this call, which turned out to be the first of two received by his family, and then returned to Camp Street. Arriving at about 0630 hrs, Khan said, he met police officers who had kept watch over the store and who informed him that a part of the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher had been recovered. Khan said that the name of his brother, Glen Lall, had been scratched on the RPG launcher, as was the name of the weekly newspaper Lall publishes, Kaieteur News. Another piece of the launcher was later found and according to Khan, by 0735 hrs, people were able to enter the store. In the store, police found a piece of the RPG along with fragments of it. Khan said that once in the building, damage to appliances was evident. He spoke at length about the arrangements made by the police for the security of his building and home. According to him, he had received promises from Assistant Commissioner Henry Greene that security would be provided for his home and business. Khan said that police officers did arrive at his home at around 1145 hrs, but was unable to say if the same was true at his store. He also said that some days later, he had a conversation with Greene who said that police protection was being withdrawn on the orders of Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis. According to Khan, this conversation came a day after he had spoken with then president Janet Jagan who had told him that she had made provisions for the police to offer security. But before these two incidents, he said, on June 14, his wife received the second threatening call. He related that his wife called Brickdam Police Station, Impact Base but was informed that she would have to report the matter to Alberttown Police Station since it was in that jurisdiction. According to Khan, his wife told him that she telephoned Alberttown Police Station but the female officer who answered, refused to take a complaint and hung up on her. Khan said his wife was able to contact a Detective Lawrence, attached to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to whom she reported the call and complained about the female officer. Later in the day Lawrence was said to have apologised for the behaviour of the officer. On June 15, he recalled, he was at Bhena's Footwear store where someone had smashed a window. Khan said that he chased the person in an attempt to effect an arrest but was unsuccessful. He said that he was surrounded by a crowd and beaten and that the injuries he sustained still affect him. The businessman said that after his beating, he was taken to hospital by police officers and on that same day was asked to pay $10,000 to the police for protection. He said that he made this payment the next day at the Brickdam Police Station. Reading from Khan's prepared statement, Justice Singh quoted the receipt number. However, according to Khan he is yet to receive either the security service or his money back. He also said that while at Bhena's his wife had called and informed him that some 100 persons were in front of his store. They were said to be pelting missiles, which damaged his truck. Khan further claimed that on June 17, a man broke into his car at home and stole a radio and some documents. But when he attempted to link this with the rest of his testimony, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Denis Hanomansingh, who is representing the police, strongly objected. The DPP argued that there had to be some sort of limit on the scope of testimony since everyone who suffered from any criminal act during the strike would come forward and the commission's work would never be done. Commissioner Singh conceded to this and only allowed Khan to reveal the bare outlines of the incident after which he allowed the DPP to cross-examine. In a brief cross-examination Hanomansingh got Khan to admit that prior to Monday of this week, he had never made a report to the police concerning the grenade incident. He also made Khan acknowledge that a spare magazine (for a gun) which fell during Khan's confrontation with the crowd on June 15 had been retrieved and was in police custody. Cumberbatch declined re-examination. Justice Singh then announced that the tribunal would be adjourned until tomorrow when Greene's testimony will be sought concerning various incidents during the strike. Tomorrow should mark the end of hearings by the commission, which was one of the conditions included in the agreement signed by government and public service unions to end the 55-day strike. A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples