HGP Nightly News Reports : The state has formally withdrawn all criminal charges of conspiracy to extort and libel against journalist Gary Eleazar and businessman Dorwain Bess, now Chairman of the Forward Guyana Movement. The dismissal was made today by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, following a written submission from Police Prosecutor Mandel Moore to discontinue the case.
The charges, which date back to September 2022, alleged that Eleazar and Bess conspired to extort businessman Afras Mohamed of BM Soat Auto Sales by publishing defamatory material and demanding payment for its removal. Both men have consistently denied these accusations, claiming they were victims of an entrapment scheme orchestrated by Mohamed with the assistance of certain members of the Guyana Police Force.
The withdrawal of charges coincided with Magistrate Azore preparing to rule on a no-case submission made by Dr. Dexter Todd, Eleazar’s lead attorney. Dr. Todd argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case and suggested that Afras Mohamed and specific police officers should be investigated instead, citing evidence of a plot to entrap Eleazar and Bess.
The prosecution relied on over a dozen police witnesses, including senior officers, but their testimonies were marked by uncertainty, with over 90% of responses recorded as “I don’t recall.” The State’s key witness, Alex Wayne, who had initially been charged alongside Eleazar and Bess, later turned State witness but failed to substantiate his claims in court, even invoking divine authority to support his testimony without providing concrete evidence.
The dismissal of the case has been seen as a vindication for Eleazar and Bess, who assert they were wrongfully charged and maliciously prosecuted. Eleazar welcomed the ruling, stating that it confirmed the State’s case was groundless and motivated by ulterior motives. Bess described the ordeal as an abuse of prosecutorial power aimed at destroying lives without cause.
Both men are now considering legal action for malicious prosecution and defamation against the State and media entities that published defamatory allegations during the case.
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