High Court upholds magistrate’s decision to remand convicted ex-wife beater Seeram

Last Updated on Monday, 5 October 2026, 20:31 by Writer

High Court judge Joy Persaud-Singh on Monday denied a request for bail to be granted to coordinator of Guyana’s Border Patrol Unit pending his sentencing for assaulting his ex-wife.

The judge said the application by Seeram’s lawyer Nigel Hughes did not meet the test for judicial review.

This magistrate upheld Magistrate Abigail Gibbs’ decision to remand Seeram to prison until his sentencing on November 2.

This means that Seeram will be moved from the Sparendaam Police Station, where he was held over the weekend pending Monday’s judicial review hearing, to the Lusignan Prison.

The judge’s decision was made after she heard similar arguments by lawyers for Mr Seeram and the State,that he should not have been remanded to prison.

Mr Hughes told the court that the magistrate’s decision to remand Seeram violated the Bail Act.

He said the one month remand amounted to a sentence without the benefit of several reports.

Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall, representing the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, agreed with Mr Hughes’ arguments.

She added that the law allows the magistrate the option of a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.

“It’s almost as if the magistrate had showed her hand,” Ms Lall said.

She added that Seeram’s remand “almost renders his sentencing hearing otiose and perfunctory.”

The Deputy Solicitor General had hoped that the High Court judge would have granted Seeram bail with strict reporting conditions including submission of his passport and a stay-away order.

Mr Hughes said he would appeal Justice Persaud-Singh’s decision immediately to the Guyana Court of Appeal.