FOUR police ranks including an Assistant Superintendent, Corporal and two constables will appear in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today, charged with Corruption Transaction by Agent as recommended by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum who told the Chronicle that the police received the file yesterday afternoon with the advice from the DPP chambers.

The file was sent to the DPP’s office since Monday of this week, a few days after the police launched an investigation into the matter that they had collected a total of $6 million cash to allow a minibus with cocaine to pass them without intercepting it or detaining the occupants of the vehicle.

On the day in question, September 10, 2015 the ranks received information that the vehicle which frequently transports cocaine across the Corentyne corridor was on its way to Springlands with a shipment.
The ranks quickly placed themselves into operation mode and when the vehicle was spotted they intercepted it following which they carried out a search.
The ranks then found the illegal substance and demanded from the occupants of the minibus that they will accept the six million to give them a free pass. One of the occupants then reportedly left the Corentyne Coast and traveled to the city where he collected the cash from someone in Republic Park and returned to Berbice and made the payment.
The bus with the cocaine was then allowed to pass and the ranks reportedly divided the money. The story however, broke out after a rank who was promised a certain amount of cash was not given the amount and the matter was reported to the Divisional Commander.
During the course of the investigation, two of the ranks cooperated with the police throughout and more than one million of the money was returned. The cocaine was however not returned as the occupants who also cooperated with the police stated that they handed the illegal substance over to two nationals from Suriname.
The ASP, whose name was given as Brown, was at the time functioning as the sub divisional officer for the Corentyne Coast.
It has long been rumored that some ranks who work along the Corentyne corridor especially in the Springlands area are in the habit of corrupt practices where they collect cash and other handouts to turn a blind eye to certain illegal activities.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan who has been following the matter closely has since stated that he was happy that junior ranks are speaking out about wrongdoing and that will encourage others to do the same and work with some sense of pride and professionalism.
He also stated that “who has to go to jail will have to go to jail” since the government is not into entertaining corrupt ranks within the force and those persons who are bent on such practices will have to be weeded out.

By Leroy Smith