EVEN as new reports surfaced of Clarence Greene, the 26-year-old alleged arsonist denying his involvement in starting the fire that razed 80 per cent of the buildings in the compound of the Brickdam Police Station on Saturday last, investigators are preparing to have his video confession presented to the court.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), on Tuesday night, issued a statement dismissing what it said were “malicious” and “fabricated” social media posts that question the integrity and professionalism of investigators.

“One can only infer that these unsubstantiated attacks on the integrity and professionalism of ranks of the Guyana Police Force is [sic] nothing more than an attempt to undermine the investigations,” the GPF statement said.

It added, “It is clear that the suspect was under no form of duress at the time he explained to the police how he started the fire…the Guyana Police Force is sparing no effort as it continues the investigation.”

The GPF also clarified that investigators are in possession of a video confession and “not on paper” as is being claimed by the 26-year-old Georgetown resident. “Based on police procedures,” the GPF statement continued, “the evidence of the video confession would be prepared for court presentation.”

A media report surfaced on October 5, 2021, on the social media platform, Facebook, noting that Green met with attorneys-at-law Ronald Daniel and Kiswana Jeffords and related that not only did he have nothing to do with the fire, but he was forced to sign a confession.

In the initial press statement issued last Sunday, the GPF disclosed that a video confession was provided by the alleged arsonist. Greene, a resident of Princes Street, Lodge, had been arrested for armed robbery and was in custody at the Brickdam Police Station at the time the fire started.

According to the police press release Sunday, the man claimed that he “grew frustrated” after being detained for several hours and so he decided to set fire to the building.

Greene was reportedly one of 16 persons in custody at the time of the fire and had been safely evacuated from the Brickdam compound. Persons held in custody at the station were later transferred to the Sparendaam Police Station.