–  notice issued for former top cop McDonald
– as gov’t seeks answers after diamonds disappear from police station

THE Government of Guyana has issued an urgent public notice for nine former policemen to explain why some $54M worth of diamonds has disappeared. The diamonds reportedly belong to Ronald Khan who has since filed a suit against the State to reclaim the diamonds and or its value.

Guyana Chronicle understands that the matter dates back to 1994 when a dispute arose in the mining community of Ekereku, located in Region Seven.

According to the notice published in this newspaper on Saturday, May 5, 2018, former Police Commissioner Floyd McDonald, who back in 1994 served as Crime Chief; Harley Davidson, Deputy Crime Chief; Eon Sandy, formerly stationed at the Supreme Court Police Outpost; Alwyn Wilson, stationed at ‘E’ and ‘F’ Division headquarters, Eve Leary; Terrence Semple, last stationed at Mahdia Police Station; Courtney Ramsey, last stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), police Headquarters, Eve Leary; Desmond Leitch, last stationed at CID, Eve Leary; Constable Fraser Reg#10881; and Ex-detective Sergeant Carl Wilson, Reg # 7797 are being asked to make urgent contact with the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers.

“Notice is hereby given to the following persons to make URGENT contact with the Attorney General’s Chambers… to give a detailed account in the matter Ronald Khan v the Attorney General for judicial purposes,” the notice said.

Khan had initially started proceedings sometime in 2011 to retrieve his diamonds, Guyana Chronicle understands. According to information received, back in 1994, a dispute ensued at Ekereku which resulted in the death of a person. The alleged killers reportedly stole diamonds belonging to Khan. However, they were caught but subsequently escaped from prison.

The status of the criminal proceedings relative to the aforementioned matter is unclear. Notwithstanding, Guyana Chronicle understands that the diamonds were under police watch in the city when they reportedly disappeared without a trace.

According to attorney Joan-Ann Edghill-Stuart, the lack of information relative to what transpired back in 1994 has prompted the AG’s Chambers to issue a public call on the identified persons to come forward to provide information.
“As it is now, we don’t know where the diamonds are… it would have been since 1994, a long time ago but it was only in 2011 that they brought the civil claim,” Edghill-Stuart told Guyana Chronicle when contacted Saturday.

The attorney explained that repeated efforts were made to contact the nine persons, but to no avail. “I didn’t get on to any of the police officers; some of them are outside of the jurisdiction, some are dead,” she told Guyana Chronicle.

However, information received thus far suggests that the diamonds were last handled by the then Crime Chief Floyd McDonald who subsequently served as Police Commissioner and Harley Davidson, his deputy at the time.

MURDER
Edghill-Stuart pointed to a murder which apparently is connected to the seizure of the diamonds but the details of that crime is unclear. She said two persons circa 1994 were held for a murder (reportedly related to the diamonds) but subsequently escaped.
“I am not sure what the status of the charges is and whether the persons [who escaped] were ever found. I am not certain the charges were dropped. That’s why the police officers were called upon to make contact with the office because they ought to know what the status of the diamonds is. As it is now, we don’t know where the diamonds are.”
Guyana Chronicle understands that all that the police have on record is that the persons held for the murder escaped from prison.

Meanwhile, this publication was able to communicate with one of the police officers called upon to make contact with the AG’s Chambers. The former officer, who now resides overseas, recalled a similar case.

The elderly man explained that there was a dispute between one ‘Harvey Brock’ who at the time resided in the vicinity of Supply, East Bank Demerara and another miner at Ekereku. As a result, Constable Fraser collected and transported the diamonds reportedly belonging to Ronald Khan to Georgetown.

Constable Fraser reportedly handed the diamonds over to the source who then informed the Deputy Crime Chief Davidson. Davidson in turn instructed him to take the diamonds to the then Crime Chief Floyd McDonald.

McDonald then called in Inspector Mason (only name provided) and instructed Mason to take the diamonds to a diamond dealer located in the vicinity of Shanta’s Roti Shop on Camp and New Market Streets.

“There was a diamond dealer somewhere near Shanta’s. I can’t remember the exact location but I know it is in that area. The diamonds were taken to the dealer who verified them as authentic. The diamonds were carried back to McDonald, but I cannot state what happened after that,” the man told Guyana Chronicle, noting that the matter in question happened more than 20 years ago.

The former policeman said he does not recall ever having any other dealings during his tenure with diamonds neither could he remember a murder being part of the case.
Hughes, Fields and Stoby are representing Khan. When contacted Saturday, Nigel Hughes confirmed that his law firm is representing Khan.
Meanwhile, the matter comes up Monday before Puisne Judge, Fidela Corbin-Lincoln.