Guyana Times Reports : The Guyana Police Force has signalled its intention to challenge a ruling by Magistrate Allan Wilson dismissing a cybercrime terrorism charge against 37-year-old Dennis Persaud of West Strathavon, Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, following the collapse of the prosecution’s case at trial.
Magistrate Wilson dismissed the charge following submissions made at the close of the prosecution’s case, after the defence successfully argued that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish a prima facie case against Persaud.
The charge, which originated in May 2025, alleged that Persaud used a computer system to incite persons to commit a terrorist act by encouraging the burning of speed cameras. He had been granted $150,000 bail when he first appeared before the court at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.
In arguing for dismissal, the defence pointed to several critical weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. The allegation was based on a social media post that was deleted shortly after it was made, and there was no evidence to prove that Persaud was the author of the original post. The content was shared in a restricted format, with no proof that it reached a wide audience, and crucially, no person was shown to have acted on the alleged incitement — no speed cameras were burned as a result.
Testimony from the prosecution’s own expert witness, Assistant Superintendent of Police Koulen, further undermined the case. He confirmed that no trace of the post was found on Persaud’s device and that he could not confirm authorship, the number of persons who viewed the post, or how long it remained online.
The defence also advanced arguments on the legal definition of incitement, submitting that it requires clear intent and direct encouragement to commit a crime, going beyond mere expression of ideas — a threshold the prosecution’s evidence failed to meet.
Despite the dismissal, the Guyana Police Force said it is dissatisfied with the ruling and is reviewing the matter with a view to mounting a legal challenge, maintaining that the case involves the use of digital platforms in a manner that could threaten public infrastructure and safety.
