Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Annette Ferguson is expected to attend court soon in relation to cybercrime allegations laid against her back in June 2021.
An update received from the Police on Thursday stated that the Police Legal Officer has advised Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum — pursuant to investigations conducted — to institute a charge against the MP for using a computer system to humiliate a person, contrary to Section 19 (5) (a) of the Cyber Crime Act, No 16 of 2018.
In June, Ferguson was arrested by ranks at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown pursuant to a report received against her in relation to a cybercrime allegation.
The person who made the report is a senior member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The person made an allegation against Ferguson in relation to a Facebook social media post that alleged that he will be in charge of a killing squad. An investigation subsequently commenced.
“Miss Ferguson is expected to make her court appearance shortly,” the police update stated.
Her arrest came not long after Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo lost the bid to overturn a default judgment by the Court for him to pay Ferguson $20M for libellous statements made back in 2019.
Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon has condemned the grounds on which Ferguson was arrested. He said it is a clear case of political persecution.
“I strongly condemn the actions of the Guyana Police Force in arresting APNU+AFC Coalition Opposition Member of Parliament Hon. Annette Ferguson on spurious grounds of breaching the cybercrime act. The PPP regime’s persecution of the political Opposition continues with wanton disregard for the law, the constitution and the rights of citizens. The Guyana Police Force has been fully weaponized against the Opposition,” Harmon said.
“We appeal to all right-thinking Guyanese, local and international human rights bodies, civil society and all other democracy-loving entities to condemn these dictatorial and authoritarian acts of political persecution being meted out by the PPP to Opposition Members of Parliament. The PPP is pushing this nation to the brink of civil unrest with its persistent and unceasing attacks on the political Opposition.”
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