Georgetown, Guyana – November 2, 2026: A 24-year-old rank of the Guyana Police Force appeared before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs on Monday to face formal cybercrime accusations related to the unauthorized transfer of sensitive surveillance footage from the national police CCTV command centre to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. Constable Ashton “Chappy” Chappelle, a resident of Non Pariel on the East Coast of Demerara, was denied bail by the presiding magistrate and ordered remanded to prison, with his next scheduled court appearance set for November 24, 2026 – the same date that fellow officer Constable Ryan Greene and Opposition Leader Mohamed are already mandated to return for their ongoing related proceedings.
The formal charge against Chappelle alleges he unlawfully obtained and disseminated electronic data tied directly to Guyana’s national security, in contravention of Sections 9(1)(b) and 9(2)(b) of the 2018 Cybercrime Act No. 16. A conviction on this offence carries a maximum penalty of a GY$8 million fine and up to five years of custodial sentence. Internal police investigations trace the alleged offence to events that unfolded on October 24, 2026. Law enforcement officials took Chappelle into custody on October 30, 2026, before formally serving him the charge earlier this week.
The unfolding legal saga traces back to a press conference held by Mohamed in late October, where he publicly screened more than 20 minutes of unauthorised CCTV footage to contradict the official police version of a chaotic October 12 incident outside the private residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, the head of the police force’s intelligence unit. Narine is a key witness in the ongoing U.S. extradition proceedings targeting Mohamed and his associates. Following that public screening, police launched a full probe to identify the source of the leaked surveillance material. Mohamed, along with two members of his staff, currently faces three separate criminal charges: discharging a loaded firearm in close proximity to Narine’s home in an alleged bid to obstruct the course of justice, unlawful possession of a handgun, and unauthorised possession of live ammunition.