(Editor’s note: This is a cable from the files of the State Department that was included in the FBI’s 2009 RYMUR release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act. It was not included in the State Department’s own release, but we have included identifying information for it using the agency’s designations.)
O R 211900Z OCT 80
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3860
RUEHFB/FBI WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEBWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHSP/ AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 3629
BT
CONFIDENTIAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 5071
FBI WASHDC PLEASE PASS FBI SAN JUAN AND FBI SAN FRANCISCO
E.O. 12065: NA
TAGS: CARR, GY (LAYTON, LAURENCE)
SUBJ: COURT HEARING ON LAWRENCE [Laurence] LAYTON’S LEGAL FEES
REF: GEORGETOWN (illegible)
1. (Limited Official Use – entire text.)
2. The court hearing held Oct 21 was inconclusive and was adjourned until 1000 hours October 22, at which time Layton’s lawyer, Jai Narine Singh, has been instructed by the judge to produce evidence as to why this claim should not be dismissed.
3. Both the Chief Justice of the court and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicating separately to us today that they expected Singh’s claim to be thrown out, but the DPP seems reluctant to expel Layton as long as Singh’s case is pending, even though he apparently has a legal right to do so (reftel). The DPP told us this morning, before the Oct 21 court hearing, that he expected to be able to turn Layton over to us on Friday, October 24, in time for Pan Am’s last flight out of Georgetown, but this remains tentative pending the Singh case.
4. Pan Am is arranging to hold three seats on the October 24 flight, without disclosing the names of the passengers. The DPP hopes that the possible presence of Layton on that flight will not become public knowledge.
Roberts [George B. Roberts, Jr., American ambassador to Guyana]
BT
5071