Charged with trafficking, demanding…
THREE policemen from the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were yesterday remanded to prison on joint charges of demanding money with menace and trafficking in narcotics. Lance Corporal Eon Grannum, 33, of Lot 2214 Flying Fish Street, North Ruimveldt and Constable Shindell James, 37, of Lot 22 Stone Avenue, Campbellville, both in Georgetown and Constable Jermaine Durant, 25, of Lot 47 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Particulars of one offence alleged that, on November 12, in the city, they demanded $75,000 from Brian Chung, to avoid him being prosecuted for drug trafficking, with intent to steal the money.
The other allegation against them said, the same day, they had 301 grammes of cannabis (marijuana) for the purpose.
After the trio pleaded not guilty to the offences, Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said the defendants, all members of the GPF, were on mobile patrol duty at East Bank Demerara.
The Prosecutor said, around 08:30 h, they carried out a search at Chung’s  home and found the marijuana which they seized and demanded the cash from him so that he would escape prosecution.
Telford said, after the cops left, Chung reported the matter and a sting operation was set up, in which the serial numbers on the notes in the $75,000 were recorded before being handed over to the defendants.
According to the Prosecutor, the defendants were intercepted later the same day by senior officers and a search of the vehicle in which they were yielded a bag under the front seat, containing leaves, seeds and stems of the prohibited plant and the money on the back seat.
The Prosecutor said advice was sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before the charges were laid and he, successfully, objected to bail on the drug charge.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Gregory Gaskin, whose application for pre-trial liberty to be granted the policemen failed, said their performance in the Force was outstanding until the bust.
He said they were on duty in Police vehicle PLL 1000 when they saw several young men at a street corner and searches of them produced the marijuana for some of which Chung claimed ownership.
Gaskin said the charge of trafficking against the policemen is ridiculous because someone else has already laid claim to the marijuana.
The lawyer said there seems to have been a conspiracy against the defendants and he intends to get to the bottom of it.
He said Chung was being taken to a station when they were all intercepted.
But the Prosecutor informed the Court that the Chung bust took place around 08:30 h and the defendants did not go to the Police station until 17:50 h.
Telford said it is a clear case of the defendants embarrassing the image of the Force when they were supposed to serve and protect.
The cases will be called, again, on November 19.