FOUR policemen – an assistant superintendent, a corporal and two constables – were yesterday charged in connection with the $6 million cocaine bribe at the Whim Police Station, Berbice.Police said the four ranks were involved in a conspiracy to allow a man to pass freely with cocaine in a minibus on the Corentyne Coast sometime between September 10 and 11,2015.
The man, Renason Parks, was stopped at a police roadblock. When the cocaine was discovered, the man offered the three junior officers $1 million as a bribe. However, they demanded $6 million.
They gave the man time to bring the money, and parked the bus at the station. It was at this point that the Assistant Superintendent was offered a share in the bribe ($500,000) so he would keep quiet.
The officers charged before Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday were Constables Ray Drepaul Saul of Eversham Village and Trevon McKenzie of Princeton Village, Corentyne; 42-year-old Corporal Shawn McPhoy of Lot 174 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, and Assistant Superintendent Terrence Brown.
Two other officers are to be called as witnesses after they allegedly collected $500,000 each, but later returned the money.
According to the charge, Brown, stationed at the Whim Police Station, and being an agent employed by the State of Guyana corruptly obtained from Police Corporal Shawn McPhoy a sum of money considered as an inducement for forbearing to charge Renason Park with trafficking narcotics. Brown denied the charge.
Brown, a 48-year-old father of 10 who resides at Lot 273 Sister’s Village, Berbice, was represented by counsel who explained to the court that his client has been serving the Guyana Police Force for over 30 years.
The lawyer further requested the release of his client on bail, arguing that a case of witness tampering could be , since the other co-accused is on remand.
Assistant Superintendent Brown was released on $250,000 bail and his matter was also transferred to the Whim Magistrates Court.
According to the prosecution, on the day in question the three ranks were stationed at Salton, Corentyne, when they intercepted a minibus reportedly carrying a quantity of cocaine and a large sum of cash.
The ranks were however offered $1M by the minibus owner Parks but the ranks demanded $6M and Parks agreed to pay the hefty sum. The ranks reportedly took the vehicle to the station and the minibus owner subsequently returned with the $6M in cash.
However, after receiving their ‘hush money,’ the ranks took $500,000 to their senior officer as his part.
Two other constables had each allegedly collected $500,000, but they returned the money. They are to be called as witnesses, and their charges are being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).