– case dismissed after victim refuses to testify

The Guyana Police Force, in its effort to weed out dishonest and corrupt members, on Monday, charged a police constable stationed on the Essequibo Coast with simple larceny of a Samsung cellular phone valued $119,000.

The offence occurred on September 18, 2018 at Double ‘D’ Mall, situated at Charity Public Road, where the victim operates a food business. The cell phone belonged to Angelena Byrne of lot 106 Phantom Street, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

Reports indicate that the accused policeman along with a colleague, both fully dressed in uniform, entered the business and picked up the phone, which was left on a table, and they promptly exited. The matter was reported and a review of the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage in the building caught the dishonest cop in the act.

Based on legal advice obtained, the police constable, John Small, 23, of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, alone was charged. He appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the case was dismissed after the victim offered no evidence against the constable who is still a probationer. Both constables have since been transferred pending a decision by the Commissioner of Police in respect of their retention in the Force.