Members from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) detained 15 foreign nationals during a raid this morning at the Diamond Strip Club in George Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.
The Guyana Standard has been informed that the raid was prompted by a viral social media footage which showed a woman trying to get into the strip club’s compound by jumping over a locked gate. She was being assisted by other women who were both inside and outside the yard.
According to information received, investigators have detained the woman on suspicions that they were trafficked here and are being forced to work in the club.
Last Friday, the owner of the club, Freeman Fordyce, was handed a four years suspended sentence after being convicted on firearm related charges.
It was alleged that on May 5, 2018 at George and Princes Streets, Georgetown, he had in his possession one Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol without being a licensed firearm holder at the time. On the same day, he had in his possession, 15 live rounds of 9mm ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Additionally, Fordyce is before the court in relation to a widely circulated video in which he was seen punching a Police Inspector to the neck.
In that case, it is alleged that on November 9, 2018 at George Street, Georgetown, he assaulted Police Inspector, Prem Narine. It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, Fordyce behaved in a disorderly manner.
He denied both allegations after they were read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It was reported that the Inspector along with other policemen went to search the club after four Venezuelan women complained that the businessman seized their passports and threatened to kill them and their families if they refused to work as prostitutes.
This revelation came to light when two of the entertainers escaped from the club. It was their statements that led ranks to carrying out the raid. During the search, however, Fordyce punched the Inspector to the neck.
The officer subsequently pulled out his gun to keep the attacker at bay. The entire ordeal was recorded on surveillance camera.
