Cops $6M cocaine bust (flyline) Who has to be jailed will be jailed- Ramjattan

guyana chronicle news

PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan last evening vowed that he has indicated his intention to fight right down the line to get to the bottom of the corrupt practices within the Guyana Police Force, especially on the issue of the bribe that was paid to four police officers who pocketed $6 million to allow the occupants of a bus transporting a large amount of cash and cocaine to pass without them being detained.“I am so happy that a number of junior ranks are speaking out on the issue of corruption, something they were afraid to do in the previous regime,” the minister stated. Asked if he believes that the issue of senior ranks being involved in corrupt practices of such a grave nature has the potential to demoralise the junior ranks and their willingness to serve genuinely, the minister responded in the negative, as he pointed out that the junior ranks are motivated when they see senior ranks being brought to justice for corrupt practices. Ramjattan said that he is sure that the development with respect to the $6 million bribe will no doubt reflect very badly on the Guyana Police Force, but also brings to light the reality of the corruption within the Guyana Police Force and exposes the fact that very senior officers are also part and parcel of corrupt practices. “You cannot be fighting criminals and be a criminal at the same time,” said the minister. He went on to state that when senior ranks are caught with their pants down, as in the case of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, it motivates the junior ranks and allows them to also know which senior police officers they can approach to complain about other senior ranks who are involved in corruption. “When they get catch like this the junior ranks are motivated, they know the senior ranks who are creating mischief and they are bringing it to the force and I want that comfort level to remain there so that they can come forward with confidence and speak out when they see senior ranks doing crap and I see it as something that will motivate them to speak.” Minister Ramjattan used the opportunity to compliment the Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts who according to Minister Ramjattan is a very fine policeman and a good commander who took the right and necessary action. The minister also commended the Commissioner of Police for supporting the commander in his move to ensure that the rogue cops are separated from the genuine police ranks. Meanwhile, this publication has been informed that on the day the police took the $6 million bribe from those who were transporting the cocaine and cash, they waited for three hours until the occupants of the minibus travelled to the city where they collected the cash to pay off the police. It was reported that the cash the occupants returned with was actually borrowed from a businessman who resides in Republic Park and was charged some time ago for murdering the sister of another businessman. He subsequently walked scot free in that matter. Police sources stated that they could not confirm if the drugs were the property of the businessman who provided the bribe money and if he was told by the occupants of the minibus what they really wanted the money for, but that information is being pursued by the investigating ranks. Thus far, out of the four police ranks who are under close arrest in Berbice, only two are cooperating with the investigators while the other two are not. All three of the civilians who are being questioned in relation to the matter are cooperating with the police investigators who travelled from Georgetown to deal with the issue. The Assistant Superintendent of Police who was immediately transferred to Georgetown in connection with the investigation is under house arrest at the Tactical Services Unit. There he is not permitted to leave the confines of the GPF Headquarters. On September 10, 2015 the ranks received information about the minibus and the fact that the vehicle frequently transports cocaine across the country. The police waited for the minibus and when it was spotted the ranks pulled it over, searched the vehicle and found the cocaine and cash. They demanded the cash to allow the vehicle to pass and after being told by the occupants of the bus that they could not touch the quantity that they had in the vehicle, the men were ordered to go and get the bribe; this was done even as the police kept the minibus with the cocaine under guard. Police sources are of the view that the ranks who spilled the beans did that in the interest of other ranks who worked with the rogue policemen and the senior rank. It was pointed out that the ranks who spilled the beans about the corrupt practice mentioned that the illegal transaction had the potential to put in harm’s way

the other police ranks and even civilians who might be at the police station, should the owner of the drugs and money return to settle a score under the pretext that they were robbed by the ranks.

By Leroy Smith