Police Constable Ashton Chappelle, who was named in High Court proceedings last week in connection with the alleged unauthorised downloading and transfer of police surveillance footage, has been charged under the Cybercrime Act.
Chappelle, called “Chappy”, 24, of Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, was on Monday charged with obtaining and giving electronic data relating to the national security of the State, in contravention of Section 9(1)(b) and contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Cybercrime Act No. 16 of 2018.
The charge stems from an alleged offence said to have occurred on October 24, 2026.
Chappelle was arrested on Friday, October 30, and subsequently charged on Monday.
He appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs, where the charge was read to him. Bail was refused and he was remanded to prison until November 24, when the matter will return to court.
Chappelle’s name had surfaced during High Court proceedings last week involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene, who are facing a separate but related charge over the alleged unauthorised release of sensitive police surveillance footage.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, disclosed during a habeas corpus application filed by Mohamed’s attorneys that Chappelle had been implicated in the investigation.
According to Nandlall’s disclosure, investigators alleged that Chappelle admitted to downloading surveillance recordings from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Command Centre, transferring them to a flash drive and handing the device to Greene.
The recordings reportedly relate to the October 12 shooting incident outside the Kitty, Georgetown, residence of Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, Head of the Special Branch Unit and a witness in the extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.
Greene, 20, of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, and Mohamed, 39, of Houston, Greater Georgetown, were previously charged and remanded with unauthorised granting of access to or giving of electronic data, contrary to Section 9 of the Cybercrime Act.
