Firemen suspended over alleged theft from crash landed plane

The twelve firemen accused of theft from crew members and passengers of a Fly Jamaica plane, which crash landed last Friday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, have all been suspended, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle yesterday confirmed.

Gentle told Stabroek News that the accused members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) are suspended from duties pending the outcome of ongoing investigations. He noted that an independent investigation at the GFS is still ongoing. A Board of Inquiry, he said, is probing the allegations against the firemen.

Meanwhile, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves yesterday told this newspaper that the police file is currently with investigators of ‘A’ Division for further work.

The Police Legal Advisor, retired judge Claudette Singh, had advised that further investigations be done after investigators had requested advice on how to proceed with the evidence gathered so far.

In the file, Alves said Singh highlighted seven points she would like to have clarified.

Hours after the firefighters responded to the crash landing, which occurred at around at around 2.45 am, the allegation was levelled against them.

During that preliminary investigation, one fireman came forward with some of the stolen items.

After a report was made to the police last Friday morning of personal belongings going missing, an investigation was launched.

On Tuesday, it was reported that the firemen were released from police custody on $100,000 bail each.