Charges of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) levelled against a pilot, Orlando Charles, have been dismissed. Charles, a 45-year-old businessman of Middle Street, Georgetown faced 16 charges last year by ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Trafficking in Persons Unit.
Charles appeared at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court today, where the magistrate found no evidence to support the charges of trafficking.
According to police, Charles reportedly trafficked Venezuelans between November 1, 2022, and May 18, 2023.
The victims reported the matter to the Guyana Police Force, and members of the Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters immediately conducted an investigation.
Following the probe, legal advice was given by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for 45-year-old to be charged.
But Charles has always maintained his innocence; saying that the purported victims were coerced by an organisation to level these accusations against him. Charles issued a statement on May 30, 2023, mere hours after the Guyana Police Force published a bulletin for his arrest. The man said the dispute between himself and several persons, some of whom are accusing him of trafficking, is over wages. He said that he did not bring these individuals to Guyana, nor did he restrict their movements.
He added that the disgruntled persons were discussing their grievances at an establishment when they were approached by members of an organization. He alleged that these representatives suggested to the persons that the pay dispute could be classified as ‘Trafficking’, and they would assist them to get paid.
