Dudus still in Jamaica – Top Cop

(Jamaica Observer) Describing Monday’s offensive by the security forces as highly successful, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington said wanted fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke is still in Jamaica.

“The latest intelligence we have is that Coke is still in Jamaica,” Ellington said during a press briefing at Up Park Camp yesterday, “He is now on the run and we will catch him.”

Ellington said Jamaica had been affected by transnational crime and Coke was a major player who feels he is an untouchable.

In August last year the United States Government formally requested the extradition of Coke to face gun and drug running charges.

“The difference with Coke is that he and persons loyal to him, believe that he is above the law. He believes that he should not be arrested in Jamaica and he should not face trial  for crimes he has committed in a foreign country” Ellington said.

Ellington also  revealed that members of the West Kingston militia which engaged the security forces in battle wore dresses. Ellington said some of the male corpses are dressed in female attire.

“There were two women among the civilians killed. The rest are all males and some were dressed like females at the time they were killed,” Ellington said.

Meanwhile, police have issued a new photograph of Coke.

The photograph was found on the floor of his Presidential Click office in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, following the assault by security forces on the community, which began on Sunday.

“It is being strongly suggested that he has since shaved his head and face,” said a statement issued yesterday.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) named Coke and his brother Leighton, also called Livety, among 13 alleged gang leaders who they are asking to turn themselves in.

Hours before dawn on Thursday, police went to a premises in the upscale community of Kirkland Heights in upper St Andrew after they gained intelligence that Coke was hiding out there.

The cops did not get Coke, but instead fatally shot Keith Clarke, the brother of former People’s National Party member of Parliament Claude Clarke. Four Jamaica Defence Force soldiers were injured. The Bureau of Special Investigations is probing the incident.

The police have also asked Arnett Gardens area leader George Phang to turn himself him.

The police also said they wanted Donovan Ainsworth, otherwise called ‘Pepsi’, and Delano Walker, also called ‘Fidel’ of the Central Kingston community known as ‘Tel Aviv’; Anthony Harding, also called ‘Prince Pow’ of the POW Crew; Earl Brown, also called ‘Chun’ of Top Road; Jermaine Layne, also called ‘Cutter’ of Bryden Street; Everton Douglas, also called ‘Fuba’, and Troy Ricketts, also called ‘Okra’, of Jacques Road; Michael Ewan, also called ‘Mikey One Two’, of Goodwich Lane; Michael Murray, also called ‘Bizzy’, and Andrew Salmon, also called ‘Alcapone’, of Hypolite Road in Rockfort, East Kingston.

Meanwhile, security forces have distributed photographs of what they say are explosive devices found in Tivoli Gardens following their assault on the community, which began Sunday.

So far 73 people have been confirmed dead in the operation with residents accusing security forces of atrocities, including the use of ‘bombs’. The media was allowed limited access inside the community, insufficient to corroborate such claims.

“The explosives have been disabled by Jamaica Defence Force’s Engineer Regiment and secured as evidence of the  atrocities created against members of the security forces,” said a statement from police yesterday.