– Magistrate Azeez
MAGISTRATE Fazil Azeez has called for all the allegations against members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to be taken seriously and investigated properly.

He said so at Vreed-en-Hoop Court, West Coast Demerara, on Monday when 32-year-old Vanessa Chandler, a mother of five, appeared before him and related her experience when police barged into her house at 02:00 h.

The defendant, of Lot 879 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, is charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

She pleaded not guilty to two charges, one of which said, on August 24, she had one gramme of cocaine and two grammes of cannabis (marijuana) for the purpose.

Police Sergeant Sherwin Matthews, prosecuting, said ranks went to search Chandler’s house after they received information that she was a seller of prohibited drugs.

The Prosecutor said the cops pretended that they wanted to make a purchase and Chandler was caught handing over the narcotics.

But the woman refuted the Prosecution narrative and alleged that it was the policemen who had the narcotics.

She claimed policemen Brandford and Paul knocked on her door requesting to carry out a search for ammunition and, when she allowed them entry, Brandford demanded all her money and jewellery.

“I only had $380 and officer Paul took it and put it in his pocket,” Chandler lamented.

Magistrate Azeez said it was alarming to hear the accusations that Chandler was making in view of all the negative reports about the GPF recently.

He said: “I met the Police Commissioner last Friday and I can tell how pained he is about the recent allegations. The image of the Force is under serious threat. Once people lose faith in the Police, then it means that we’re in bad shape in this country.”

The magistrate continued: “Police officers don’t have the right to break the law. And why is it that they are charged months after they commit crimes? We don’t have officers with the skills to investigate these matters.”

He granted Chandler pre-trial freedom because he took into consideration that her children had to attend school.

She was put on $50,000 bail until September 18.