High Court upholds extension of detention of former Mohameds' security officer in "Paper Shorts" murder probe

Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus has upheld an extension granted by Justice Sunil Scarce for Mark Richmond – a security guard who was attached to Mohamed’s Enterprise Security Service – to be held for another 72 hours, as the Police reopen their investigation into the murder of Ricardo Fagundes called ‘Paper Shorts.’ Richmond was taken into custody last week, and as the first 72 hours expired, his Attorney, Damien Da Silva, filed a Fixed Date Application (FDA) on Saturday for a writ of habeas corpus to be issued directing the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken to produce his body to the Court. Da Silva filed the application on the grounds that Richmond had been detained beyond the Constitutionally mandated 72-hour limitation. When the case came up this morning before Justice Isaacs-Marcus, the Court heard that the police had secured an extension on Saturday for Richmond to be held for another 72 hours. According to the order of the Court, the extension, which took effect on Saturday, will expire at 13:00hrs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. It was granted to facilitate the continuation of the investigation involving Richmond. The order was upheld by Justice Isaacs-Marcus. But at the conclusion of today’s hearing, Da Silva explained that the extension was granted Saturday morning, a few hours prior to the filing of the FDA, however, Richmond was never informed. “At the time of filing our application, no order of extension was shown to Mr. Richmond in the interest of fair and good administration nor was the order of extension orally communicated to him. Nor was there any entry at the police station of the extension where he is being held,” the Attorney explained. Da Silva said inside the Courtroom he pleaded with the Court to analyze the merits of the extension given while pointing out that approximately two years ago, Richmond was investigated and detained, but was never charged for anything. “During this 72 hrs, no formal allegation or question in relation to any murder has been put to him. He has been confronted with no incriminating evidence be it an eye witness, forensic evidence, surveillance footage, nothing,” the attorney said. But Justice Isaacs-Marcus relied on the order granted by Justice Scarce. Da Silva, while complaining about the deplorable condition under which his client is being held, said the police blatantly disregarded established protocols when they failed to inform Richmond of his extended detention. In August 2022, then police detective Dion Bascom had claimed that there was a major cover-up in the police investigation into the murder of Fagundes. Fagundes, a close associate of drug trafficking convict, Roger Khan, was gunned down outside of Palm Court on Main Street in March 2021, and Richmond and the Mohameds were implicated in the murder. But an investigation done by the Regional Security System (RSS) cleared the police of any attempt to cover up the murder of Fagundes on the grounds that the allegations were made based on “hearsay.”