Minibus driver Seon Carmichael remains behind bars after the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts once again denied him bail in connection with two recent bombings at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and a Guyana Power and Light substation.
The 35-year-old is accused of facilitating acts of terrorism, with prosecutors arguing that the severity of the offences, coupled with the ongoing threat to national security, justifies his continued detention.
Carmichael’s defence, now led by attorney Mikel Puran, claimed he was coerced into assisting the perpetrators under duress from a transnational gang.
The court heard that in May, Carmichael was contacted by Flavio Tasso, a Brazilian national alleged to be one of the masterminds behind the attacks.
Initially, Carmichael of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was led to believe he was transporting mining equipment and groceries for interior operations.
However, by May 15, 2025, he was informed that the Venezuelan nationals he was assisting were members of a gang plotting bombings across Georgetown.
Puran told the court that Carmichael was threatened with harm to his family if he alerted police.
A chilling photo of his children at school and a visit from two Spanish-speaking men were cited as evidence of the threats. The defence maintained that from that point on, Carmichael was acting under duress and fear.
There is reportedly no surveillance linking him directly to the blast sites, nor was the suspect vehicle registered to him.
His own minibus, in which he was arrested days later with his children, was allegedly not used in the attacks.
Puran emphasised that Carmichael had no criminal record, did not flee, and cooperated with police upon arrest.
Prosecutors, however, warned that Carmichael’s links to suspects still at large, two Venezuelans and Tasso, make him a potential flight risk or target.
They argued that releasing him could jeopardise the investigation and his safety. They also suggested he had operational knowledge of the planned attacks, which targeted vital infrastructure.
Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore sided with the prosecution, citing the serious nature of the allegations and their national implications.
She ruled that Carmichael would remain in custody for his own safety and the integrity of the case.
The matter was adjourned to June 25, 2025, for partial disclosure as the search continues for the three foreign suspects behind what has been labelled a significant act of domestic terrorism.
