A high court judge last week ordered the reinstatement of Eion ‘Gangsta’ Smith, a former leading member of the Black Clothes Squad, to the police force after it was found that he was unlawfully dismissed three years ago.
However, the police force later applied for a stay of execution and has indicated that it will appeal the matter.
Smith, who had been implicated in the multi-million dollar robbery at Barlow Landing, Mazaruni River back in 2005 and also worked as a security guard for drug-accused businessman, Roger Khan following his dismissal from the force has all intentions of returning to the force, one of his lawyers, Patrice Henry told Stabroek News yesterday. The former policeman could not be reached for a comment by this newspaper yesterday. Smith and several other former policemen who were members of the Target Special Squad (TSS), accused of carrying out a number of extra-judicial killings, had been given the boot by now retired, Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix back in 2005.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, attorney-at-law Henry said that the ruling was handed down by Justice James Bovell-Drakes last week Wednesday. Henry appeared in association with attorneys, Benjamin Gibson and Mandisa Breedy on behalf of Smith.
According to Henry, Smith became eligible for annual leave sometime in 2005 and was duly granted 35 days which he spent in Canada. The lawyer said while in Canada Smith became incapacitated due to illness and was seen and examined by a doctor in that country. The lawyer pointed out that before his annual leave expired he was issued a medical certificate by the Canadian doctor who examined him, granting him 14 days of sick leave. Henry further stated that on the day his client’s annual leave was to expire, Smith contacted the Guyana Consulate office in Toronto, Canada and an officer there faxed the medical certificate to the Guyana Police. Smith subsequently returned to Georgetown one week after his annual leave expired, by which time his medical certificate was already in, Henry explained. He said his client on arrival immediately contacted the administration of the police force, indicating to his superiors that he was in the country but was unable to resume duty and would return at the end of his sick leave.
Henry said apparently Smith’s dismissal letter was prepared during the time he was on sick leave and this was issued to him, deeming him to have illegally withdrawn from the police force pursuant to Section 37 of the Police Act.
