The opposition People’s Progressive Party is calling on President David Granger to order a “wider probe” into allegations of corruption within a section of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
In a press statement issued last evening, the party also said since Granger was, according to media reports, briefed on the matter, his silence is perplexing.
It noted a statement from the GPF, which indicated that the matter is currently being investigated by its internal organ, the Office of Professional Responsibility. “However, the PPP wishes to stress that the reports by whistleblowers, published by the local media corps, provide enough justification for a wider probe to be ordered, particularly since what is at stake is public confidence in the leadership of the Force and a test of the commitment to address the issue of corruption,” the party added.
It pointed to a report, published in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News under the headline ‘Cops linked to Berbice corruption racket said to be involved in alleged plot to kill fellow officer,’ while saying that it demonstrates the gravity of the issue at hand.
Stabroek News was told that a “hit” was planned on an officer in ‘B’ Division who was once awarded the Guyana Police Force’s ‘Best Cop’ award.
A reliable source stated that information has been circulating indicating that two officers mentioned in previous Stabroek News articles, which revealed a corruption network in ‘B’ Division, were promised a total of $3 million to carry out the hit.
The source said that the ranks in question, a Detective Constable and another officer said to be a Lance Corporal, allegedly received $1.4 million about two weeks ago to carry out the hit and were promised that the remaining amount would be paid once the job is completed.
The money, according to information provided to this newspaper, was paid from a known drug dealer to the Detective Constable in the East Bank Berbice area.
Stabroek News was told that senior officers in ‘B’ Division were furnished with the information about the alleged hit on the officer. However, they reportedly asked that the informant providing the information to the sources be brought to them.
Even more frightening to ranks within the division is the fact that the Detective Constable who was allegedly paid to carry out the hit had been fingered in the execution-style killing of a policeman in September of 2012.
In that case, Detective Constable 20682, Jirbahan Dianand, 23, of Lot 70, Number 64 Village, Corentyne, was found dead, shot to the head execution-style in his car along the road at Jackson Creek, Corentyne.
Dianand, who was stationed at the Moleson Creek police outpost, was attached to the Narcotics Section.
Then Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell had told Stabroek News that from all indications, Dianand knew his killer.
