Two Berbice policemen are expected to be charged for a corrupt transaction after an investigation revealed that they received some $400,000 to discharge a matter of possession of an illegal firearm against a Corentyne businessman.
Commander of Region Six, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus today confirmed that following an investigation advice was sought and received to institute the charges against the two lawmen.
The Guyana Police Force in a statement today explained, that on Sunday evening a security guard was on duty at the Food Court located in Albion, Corentyne, “when he heard loud noise coming from persons who were gathered on the lower flat of the food court along with shouts that someone has a firearm.”
According to the report, the security guard, who was armed with a 9mm pistol, subsequently ran downstairs and discharged a “warning round in the air which caused the crowd to disperse.”
It was then noticed that a male who was in the crowd dropped something and ran away. “The security guard then went to see what the male had dropped, only to discover that it was a pistol with two rounds”, the report noted.
Hours after the incident, a 32-year-old unemployed female who resides at Block 4 Tain, Corentyne and a 20-year-old male of Persaud Street, Corentyne, Berbice were questioned.
“The female said she was at the Food Court when she and a male had an argument and scuffle. The male reportedly pulled out a hand gun from his pocket and she raised an alarm and ran.
“The 20-year-old male who was interviewed by the Police said he also saw when the suspect pulled out the gun from his pocket, and he ran because he was scared. The suspect was subsequently arrested by the Police and placed into custody at the Rose Hall Police Outpost but was later ‘sent away’ by a police constable”, the police’s report added.
Stabroek News was told that the man was sent away after he allegedly handed over the sum of cash to the lawmen.
Commander Bacchus yesterday explained, that initially three lawmen were placed under close arrest. However, evidence unearthed during an investigation led to the police seeking advice to charge two of the lawmen.
A police source today told Stabroek News that a police sergeant and constable are the persons expected to be charged.
According to the Commander, the man was rearrested for the firearm issue and is now also being investigated for handing over the money to the ranks.
Bacchus urged his ranks to remain professional and ensure that due process is followed at all times. He said that he hoped that the charges will be a deterrent to the ranks who would want to be involved in corrupt transactions. “I would want to advise them not to encourage these types of behaviour”, Bacchus stressed.
He also made a call to the public to desist from gifting ranks monies in the hope of avoiding prosecution.
Credit: Source link
