Whistle-blowers call for junior ranks accused of corrupt practices to also be sent on leave

‘B’ Division corruption probe…

Several police officers who provided Stabroek News with information over the past month on police corruption in ‘B’ Division are now questioning why junior ranks who aided at least one bandit and were accused of being involved in other corrupt practices, are still on active duty.

The sources pointed out that a senior officer, who was accused of being involved in corrupt practices, was sent on leave to facilitate an investigation, while several junior officers are still on the job. Last month, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves was sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation.

Additionally, they noted that an officer, who was also accused of being paid to carry out a hit on another officer, also remains on the job.

Stabroek News was reliably informed that over a dozen officers, stationed both in and out of ‘B’ Division, have so far provided statements to the Police’s Office of Professional Responsibility, which is conducting an investigation into the allegations.

The sources said that each allegation against the officers is being investigated separately.

However, they are calling for a Lance Corporal, Corporal and Detective Constable accused of being involved in corruption and who were allegedly aided by the senior officer, to also be sent on leave in order to ensure a proper investigation is carried out.

The sources said that the junior officers have been relentlessly working to identify the ranks who would have spoken to the media.

Several policemen, on condition of anonymity, have told this newspaper about corruption associated with a senior policeman who was previously stationed in Berbice.

Ranks, who said that they were breaking their silence after their reports of his activities fell on deaf ears within the division, had also identified several junior ranks who have reportedly aided the senior rank in his activities, which are said to include offering protection from prosecution to persons accused of crimes.

In Stabroek News’ first report, a group of junior ranks spoke out about a Lance Corporal and other ranks who were alleged to have been linked to a murder accused, Kelvin Shivgobin, who was recently killed during a shootout with police in Black Bush Polder, Berbice.

It was alleged that their numbers were found stored and in the call log of the mobile phone of the dead man. The senior officer was accused of protecting those ranks linked to the dead man as they purportedly aided him in his activities in the division.

The senior rank in question has also allegedly accused two detective constables in ‘B’ Division of being sources behind news reports, which has resulted in them being transferred.

More recently, it was alleged that two police ranks linked to the corruption racket in Berbice have been fingered in a plot to kill another police officer.

A reliable source stated that information was circulating indicating that two officers referenced in previous Stabroek News articles were promised a total of $3 million to carry out the hit.

The source said that the ranks in question, the Lance Corporal and the Detective Constable, allegedly received $1.4 million about two weeks ago before Stabroek News’ first article to carry out the hit and were promised that the remaining amount would be paid once the job was completed.

The money, according to information provided to this newspaper, was paid from a known drug dealer