President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Gerry Gouveia says if it is true that captured businessman Roger Khan played a role in crime fighting three years ago then it would be a shame on the police force which is responsible for protecting citizens.

Khan had said in one of his many statements that he had used his own resources to help fight crime during the escapee-led crime wave in 2002-3. He said too that he was perceived by some sections of the society as someone capable of preventing a coup against the government. Gouveia said that if indeed

Khan played a role in crime fighting then it is a serious indictment on the Guyana Police Force. "I have no idea whether he (Khan) did what he said, but if that is so then it reflects bad on our police force,' Gouveia, who recently called for the resignation of Police Commissioner Winston Felix, said.

Khan has said that he employed a network of ex-convicts and members of the now disbanded Target Special Squad to work for him. Khan now employs most of the members of that squad as either his bodyguards or informants.

Gouveia said that the police force needs to be strengthened, noting that if Khan as a civilian is saying that he was fighting crime then the question should be asked why government is spending so much money on the security forces each year.

Gouveia also said that he was concerned about media reports which say that Khan and his three cohorts had been beaten in a Suriname prison. He said if those reports are true then it is a very disturbing situation.

Gouveia, who is also the Managing Director of Roraima Inn, told Stabroek News in an interview yesterday that if it is true that Khan was beaten then it does not augur well for regional integration, since Suriname is a member of the Caribbean Community. Noting that due process must take its course in Suriname, Gouveia said that Khan is entitled like anyone else to have access to his lawyers and should not be subjected to torture. Gouveia said that he did not know Suriname to be a 'Dark Age' country, but stressed that regardless of whatever crime one commits or the country he originates from he should not be treated in a crude manner. Khan, Sean Belfield, Paul Rodrigues and Lloyd Roberts were arrested during a huge drug bust which netted 213 kilos of cocaine two weeks ago in Paramaribo. Since that point Suriname authorities had placed a ban on lawyers from making contact with the men who had complained that they were beaten on the day they were arrested. A Suriname court lifted the ban on Monday.

Currently Khan is being investigated for cocaine trafficking, possession of firearms and being part of a criminal organization. Justice Minister of the neighbouring country, Chandrikapersad Santokhi had told reporters that Khan, who fled Guyana after local police had issued a wanted bulletin for his arrest, had planned and ordered the assassination of key government and judicial officials.

The US government last week made a formal request to Suriname for Khan to be extradited to face charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the country.

However, Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira says that Guyana would not be pushing for the businessman's extradition or that of his three cohorts. The minister said they would allow Suriname to conduct their investigations. Surinamese authorities had said earlier they are eager to prosecute Khan once they can build a strong case against him.

While supporting government's decision not to seek Khan's extradition once there is no strong case against him here, Gouveia believes that the administration has a responsibility to take care of its citizens and look into their welfare. He said irrespective of whichever part of the world they are in and despite what crime they are accused of, it was government's responsibility to ensure that its citizens are treated humanely.

He said it was unacceptable for the government to pick and choose, which citizens it represents.

Meanwhile, Suriname lawyer Irwnis Khanai told Stabroek News last evening that another lawyer working in his chambers met with Khan yesterday. Khanai did not divulge details of the meeting but said that everything was going fine for Khan. He said too that Belfield, Rodrigues and Roberts are also in good spirits and he would likely meet with them today.