Days after reports of a multi-million dollar boat scam within the Guyana Police Force surfaced, Commissioner Leroy Brumell remains elusive.
For a second day yesterday, Stabroek News made attempts to contact him but was unsuccessful.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had said on Monday that as far as he is aware, there was no criminal investigation being conducted in the scam, which involved a small number of senior ranks. He further directed this newspaper to Brumell for comment on the issue.
It was following the publication of a Kaieteur News article that the ministry decided to release a statement on the scam, admitting that a small group of high level policemen took kickbacks in relation to the purchase of the boat a force boat 2009. The boat hardly worked and has since been put up for auction.
“The scam was busted and the culprits at home and abroad were identified. The government demanded repayment of all the money from the local culprits who had collected kickbacks. Some paid while others paid for those who refused to return their share. The money recovered was paid into the Consolidated Fund. The overseas-based vendor was threatened with prosecution. He fixed the boat which sailed for a few weeks and then broke down never to sail again. The government has decided to place the boat up for auction,” the ministry’s release stated, while failing to indicate why charges were not brought against the policemen involved.
The boat was acquired from Cartronics IV at a cost of $16,974,000. The police were tasked with conducting the transaction.
Based on information received, the statement said that an internal investigation was conducted into the purchase of the boat and that was when the kickbacks were uncovered.
