-wife said he never once apologised, continues to suffer emotionally
Thirty-six-year-old Farzana Hamid stood in the witness box yesterday at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court to deliver an impact statement detailing the physical and emotional abuse that she endured at the hands of her former husband Daniel Seeram and to persuade the court to deliver a sentence that matched the magnitude of his actions and their sore effects.
She was not inclined to offer a comment to Kiskadee Watch after the hearing that essentially left Seeram a free man with a 13-month suspended sentence. This type of sentence means that Seeram will serve no time in prison; only if he commits an offence within the 13 months would he be required to begin serving the time.
Magistrate Abigail Gibbs handed down the sentence for Seeram, 36, of Lot 8 Alexander Village, Georgetown having found “persuasive reasoning” that he was a suitable candidate for rehabilitation in the community and not in the prison.
The starting point of the sentence was 24 months in prison, and she deducted 10 months for his previously good character and record of service and one more month for the time he had already spent in prison. This left a total of 13 months which she ordered to be non-custodial.
Seeram, charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, was represented by Acquino Luke, Jeanique Williams and Tifaine Rutherford who appeared yesterday on behalf of Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes.
Prosecutor Ganesh Hira was not especially moved by Seeram’s statements in court yesterday which included an apology to Hamid and her parents. He said the manner in which the incident unfolded was “disgusting” and reminded the court that Hamid was asleep in their bedroom when she was awakened by punches to her head from Seeram.
Hira said Hamid also sustained quite a few injuries for which she has medical records and photos to prove. He reiterated his belief that Seeram was not remorseful and has tried to shift the responsibility for his actions.
The prosecutor was responding to Seeram’s statements that he never envisioned the marriage to end in the manner it did, and that he was sincerely sorry to everyone, including Hamid. He also said that the situation has left him depressed and wished Hamid well in her future, saying he hopes she is able to find someone with whom she is compatible and can lead a fulfilling life.
Meanwhile, Hamid related the lasting impact that Seeram’s abuse continues to have on her. “I cried and begged him to stop,” she shared, recalling how he destroyed her phone when she attempted to record the incident.
She said the incident has affected her ability to move forward with her life and that she had to seek professional therapy. She continues to struggle with anxiety and the ability to trust others, she continued, noting that the situation has left her mentally and emotionally exhausted at times. While the guilty verdict has brought her some amount of validation, she said it does not erase the effects of what he did to her.
Hamid said that Seeram has not once apologised to her and that there was an absence of remorse for which he should be held fully accountable.
Senior Probation and Social Services Officer within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Orlena Forrester told the court that Seeram came from a loving, caring, and supportive family environment where each member of the family was treated with respect.
The family went on mini vacations and did other things together like picnics and other family outings. They were deeply involved in their religious activities as staunch Hindus and his parents were strict, Forrester related.
Providing some background information on Seeram, she shared that he attended Alexander Village Nursery School, West Ruimveldt Primary and then Queen’s College. He later enlisted in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and spent 12 years and then began pursing engineering studies. He is currently the Director of Border Patrol, having also served as the Regional Chairman for Region Four.
Forrester described Seeram as having above average intellect and related how his parents and members of his community spoke well of his character. She said even Hamid, whom he married in June 2019, said he was a kind and loving individual.
Some of the problems in the marriage were attributed to the constant meddling of Hamid’s parents, according to Forrester who further related Hamid’s account that Seeram became a different person when he drank alcohol; one who was emotionally distant and who hardly spoke to her during these times.
Forrester, who called attention to Seeram’s stable and distinguished employment record, further shared that issues arose when Seeram stayed out late and nights and Hamid tried to question him about it when he returned home.
Prosecutor Hira asked Forrester if Seeram had expressed remorse specifically about what he did to Hamid. Forrester responded that nothing was said specifically about Hamid and that Seeram expressed regret for what everyone involved had to go through because of the case.
Hira also disputed Forrester’s claims about how Hamid described Seeram as kind and loving, and pointed out how Seeram had sought professional help for his behaviour way before this incident occurred in 2023.
Rutherford asked the court to grant a non-custodial or suspended sentence, noting that Seeram had already spent a month in prison. She said how Seeram has an unblemished character and that the parties had separated for over three years during which time Seeram never tried to contact her.
The magistrate said the court took into consideration Seeram’s good character in the past, the favourable probation report and his service to the country as captain in the GDF. She said the court also took into account his apology to Hamid and her family.
The magistrate stressed that Seeram’s previous good character and record of service carry weight and noted that the court also considered that Hamid’s injuries did not result in any permanent disability.
Discussion