“I am sincerely sorry.”
Those were the words of former Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram as he addressed the court shortly before receiving a suspended 13-month prison sentence on Monday, following his conviction for assaulting his ex-wife, Farzana Hamid.
Seeram was initially sentenced to 24 months imprisonment by Magistrate Abigail Gibbs. However, 10 months were deducted in recognition of his good character and record of service to the state. A further 31 days were deducted for the time he spent on remand following his conviction on October 2, 2026.
With 13 months remaining, the Magistrate exercised her powers under Section 3(1) of the Criminal Law Reform Act to suspend the sentence. Seeram will therefore not have to serve the remaining prison term unless he commits another offence, in which case he will be required to serve the sentence.
During his virtual remarks to the court, Seeram described the entire ordeal as unfortunate, saying the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of his marriage had made matters difficult.
“It was never my vision for the marriage between Miss Hamid and I to conclude in such a manner,” he said, adding that he had initially believed they would have a good marriage but attributed its eventual breakdown to external forces.
Seeram also expressed regret over the proceedings and extended an apology to those who had supported him throughout the matter, including Hamid.
“I am quite remorseful and rather depressed at the entire situation that has unfolded. I wish Miss Hamid the best in all of her future endeavours and I trust that she can find somebody who she is compatible with to lead a fulfilling life with.
“None of this should have ever happened,” he added, reiterating that he was “greatly sorry”, he told the court.
However, the expressions of regret came against the backdrop of an emotional impact statement from Hamid, who told the court that the abuse she experienced during the marriage continues to affect her physical health, emotional wellbeing and ability to move forward with her life.
Fighting back tears before a packed courtroom, which included her parents, Hamid stood in the witness box and detailed the lasting consequences of the abuse.
“Although I eventually found the courage to leave the marriage and seek justice, the impact of what I experienced did not end when the relationship ended. It has affected my physical health, my emotional wellbeing and my ability to move forward with my life,” she said.
Hamid disclosed that she had sought therapy to deal with the emotional and mental trauma, and continues to struggle with anxiety, fear and difficulty trusting others.
“Even after leaving the marriage I have continued to struggle with anxiety, fear and difficulty trusting others. These experiences and fear have affected my confidence, my sense of security and my ability to establish another relationship,” she told the court.
She further explained that the fear of experiencing abuse again had not disappeared with the end of the relationship.
“For nearly three years I have had to endure the emotional strain of pursuing justice through the court system,” she said, adding that she remains fearful that Seeram could retaliate against her for pursuing the matter.
Hamid said the guilty verdict had brought some relief and validation, but could not erase the emotional toll of the years spent seeking justice.
“The guilty verdict brought a sense of relief and validation but it cannot erase the emotional toll of the years spent seeking justice,” she said.
She also told the court that Seeram had never apologised to her or acknowledged the harm he had caused.
“While an apology will not undo what happened, the absence of any expression of remorse has added to the hurt I continue to carry,” Hamid said.
In making her appeal for an appropriate sentence, Hamid stressed that she was not seeking revenge but wanted Seeram held accountable for his actions.
“Your Worship, I am not seeking revenge. I am asking that Daniel be held fully accountable for his actions,” she said.
She urged the court to consider the seriousness of the offence, the suffering she endured and the fear she continues to live with, particularly the possibility of retaliation.
“No sentence can undo what has happened to me,” she said, expressing hope that the court’s decision would reflect the gravity of domestic violence and reinforce the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
“All I want is justice, accountability and the opportunity to live my life without fear,” she added.
Before Hamid could deliver her statement, proceedings were twice disrupted by internet connectivity problems at the prison from which Seeram was participating virtually, resulting in two adjournments.
Meanwhile, in presenting the probation report, Senior Probation Officer Erlene Foster outlined the history of the relationship between Seeram and Hamid.
According to Foster, the two were married in June 2019, but their marriage lasted approximately four years before ending in divorce in 2023.
The report indicated that the couple began experiencing domestic difficulties, which Seeram attributed to what he described as constant interference by Hamid’s parents.
As a result of the marital problems, Seeram reportedly sought relationship counselling for six months in an effort to gain a new perspective on the situation.
Foster also told the court that Hamid had described Seeram as a good person, saying he was initially nice, kind and loving towards her. “According to her he was nice, kind and loving towards her however she also stated that whenever he imbibes alcohol, he was a different person as he became emotionally distant and hardly spoke to her in the home,” Foster reported.
According to the probation report, Hamid said Seeram would frequently go out and return home late, and arguments would follow whenever she questioned his behaviour.
Foster said Hamid had expressed discomfort with the abuse and felt compelled to seek the court’s intervention, adding that she would be satisfied with whatever outcome the court determined.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Ganesh Hira, in his submissions, questioned whether Seeram’s remarks could be regarded as genuine remorse, pointing out that he had not explicitly apologised to Hamid for the suffering she endured.
Hira also highlighted the circumstances surrounding the incident, noting that Hamid was in bed at the time.
He argued that the bed was a place where she should have felt safe.
The prosecutor further submitted that Seeram had changed his account of the incident over time and raised concerns about the destruction of Hamid’s phone, which she had reportedly been using to record the incident and which could have provided evidence.
Seeram was found guilty of assaulting Hamid on October 2, 2026, bringing an end to the trial but leaving the court to consider the circumstances of the offence, the probation report, the victim’s impact statement and the appropriate sentence.
Seeram was presented by attorney Tifane Rutherford, from Hughes, Field and Stoby.
Seeram currently serves as the National Border Patrol Director. He reportedly assaulted his ex-wife, causing grievous bodily harm on September 11, 2023, at the Cummings Lodge, Georgetown apartment they shared. He was arrested and placed on $50,000 station bail.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
