Georgetown, Guyana -In a dramatic turn of events, Dorwin Bess, one of the key figures implicated in an alleged extortion conspiracy alongside political activist Rickford Burke, has issued a strongly-worded response accusing the Guyana Police Force of prosecutorial misconduct, defamation, and intentional interference with an ongoing criminal case.
The controversy erupted following an August 9th, 2024 statement released by the Guyana Police Force, titled “Prosecution’s Main Witness Implicates Rickford Burke in Criminal Extortion Conspiracy.” The statement focused on the testimony of Alex Wayne, who initially faced charges in 2022 but later turned state witness after receiving immunity from prosecution. Wayne’s testimony, which has not yet undergone cross-examination, forms a significant part of the prosecution’s case against Bess, Burke, and others.
In his response, Bess categorically denies the accusations of extortion, pointing out that Wayne’s testimony remains untested and, therefore, unverified. “Facts are stubborn things, especially when one attempts to mask the truth,” Bess stated, emphasizing that Wayne’s initial statements to the police did not implicate him in any extortion activities.
Moreover, Bess revealed that evidence in the possession of the police, which allegedly shows Wayne conspiring to burglarize Bess’s business office and steal documents, has been deliberately withheld by the prosecutor, Mandel Moore. Bess claims that Wayne’s statements were revised several times at the behest of the Guyana Police Force, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation.
“It is curious, to say the least, that the Guyana Police Force, through its Prosecutor, Mandel Moore, has chosen not to disclose such exculpatory evidence that would exonerate myself and the other defendants,” Bess asserted. He further criticized the police for issuing a press statement that selectively highlighted untested testimony while ignoring significant contradictions and the lack of direct evidence against him.
Bess also questioned the timing of the police’s statement, noting that it came nearly three weeks after the last court appearance on July 20th, with the next court date not scheduled until next month. He expressed astonishment that the police, who typically refrain from providing updates on ongoing trials, would issue a detailed report on a single aspect of an incomplete testimony.
“The fact that the Police Force has chosen to highlight this one-sided testimony now, while ignoring the contradictions and lack of direct evidence, raises serious concerns about their motives and fairness,” Bess remarked. He also highlighted that Wayne, after receiving immunity, revised his statements to shift the blame entirely onto Bess and others, despite initially implicating himself in the extortion scheme.
Bess concluded his statement with a scathing rebuke of the Guyana Police Force and the Prosecution, questioning their integrity and motives. “Given all that has come to light—the contradictory statements, the lack of direct evidence, the withholding of exculpatory evidence, and the apparent bias in reporting—I ask the Guyana Police Force and the Prosecution, have you no shame?”
As this case unfolds, it is becoming increasingly clear that the accusations against Rickford Burke and his alleged co-conspirators are mired in controversy, raising serious questions about the conduct and impartiality of the Guyana Police Force. The public and legal community alike will be watching closely as this case progresses, seeking answers to the troubling questions raised by Bess’s statement.
