Slowe pleads not guilty, placed on $50,000 bail

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Paul Slowe, has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he unlawfully revealed the identity of the woman involved in his ongoing sexual assault case.

The former police officer was placed on $50,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate (Ag) Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the first reading of the charge on Wednesday.

Slowe was charged with breaching the anonymity of a complainant in press reporting, contrary to Section 62(3) of the Sexual Offences Act. It is alleged that during one of his Facebook programs, Slowe reportedly named the victim in his sexual assault case.

A police report last week indicated that Slowe would be charged with the offence following legal advice. However, when Slowe attended court, there was no new charge to be read, despite the police’s public announcement.

After learning of the possible charge through media reporters, the former PSC Chair, accompanied by his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, visited the Brickdam Police Station, where he was informed of the charge and later placed on $200,000 station bail.

Attorneys Dawn Cush and Narissa Leander are also representing Slowe. At Wednesday’s hearing, an application for bail was made by Cush, who told the court that Slowe was a man of good character, having retired as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2010 after 37 years with the Guyana Police Force. She continued that Slowe was then appointed Chairman of the PSC in 2018 before his removal in 2021, “the same year his legal problems began.”

Cush indicated that Slowe had always appeared in person for all his court dates.

An application for Slowe to leave the jurisdiction was also made before the court. This was granted, and the naming matter will return to court on March 5. The substantive sexual assault case before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore will continue on March 7.