–Crime Chief

IN the wake of recent armed robberies perpetrated by men purporting to be members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Crime Chief Leslie James has said that these matters are of grave concern to the Force and it is only time before the suspects are apprehended.

Speaking to this publication, James explained that for men to be dressed like cops and execute crimes is a serious issue and the GPF is utilising all efforts to ensure that these men are caught and put behind bars.

He said, “We cannot have a few people out there running around terrorising citizens while posing as cops and how will people know who the real police are.”

James added that it is just a matter of time before the GPF finds them and when they do he is hoping they also get the necessary publicity since these men got the nerve to do that kind of activity.

He stated that they have had reports within recent times of these men posing as cops and robbing people after they would have left the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) but a new trend has developed in which they have robbed persons who were on their way to the CJIA.

With that in mind, James asked that citizens continue to cooperate with the police since they are mandated to execute their duties and they can stop, search and detain any person or vehicle they see fit while probing crimes.

At the same time, he encouraged citizens to be alert and report to the police while travelling if they see a police patrol, a roadblock or anything police-related to Force Control to verify police activities.

The Crime Chief added that the incident is a very precarious one and it has to end but warned citizens to be alert and observant so if the need arises they will be able to take evasive action.

On August 2, 2014 a husband and a wife along with a taxi driver were stopped on their way to the CJIA by two men, who identified themselves as policemen claiming they were investigating an accident and took them to a dismal area at Soesdyke where they were tied up and robbed of cash and jewellery amounting to millions.

The victims, a private school teacher, Latchmin Gopaul, her husband, Lekraj Gopaul of Hague, West Coast Demerara, and taxi driver, Parmanand Teekaram of Cornelia Ida, were travelling on their way to the airport to go on vacation overseas about 11:00 hrs when they were stopped at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

The trio was relieved of local and overseas currency and the jewellery and cell phones they had in their possession.
A week before, Pastor Sewnauth Poonalall of the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church was gun-butted and robbed shortly after returning from the airport with some overseas guests.

(By Michel Outridge)