An Assistant Superintendent, who was recently stationed on the Corentyne, in Berbice, is now under investigation after a man reported that he accepted a $100,000 bribe in order to make a statutory rape charge against a pregnant 14-year-old’s boyfriend disappear.
According to a senior police source in the division, the rank was moved from the Corentyne two Mondays ago and placed to work at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, where he remains on duty.
However, on Friday last a report was filed against him, after which the investigation was launched.
According to information gathered, the complainant’s daughter, 14, eloped with her boyfriend, 18, of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, a few months ago. However, after she became pregnant and visited a clinic, nurses reported the case to the Childcare and Protection Agency, which then contacted the girl’s father and informed him that they would have to visit the New Amsterdam Police Station.
On July 16, the father said, they went to the New Amsterdam Police Station and they were then told to head to the Whim Police Station, where the matter would be dealt with.
After statements were taken, the daughter’s boyfriend was arrested and the family was informed that the lad would be charged with rape. The man said he was then advised to meet with the implicated rank and seek advice. “He ask me if me get $100,000. So me explain to him that me na get $100,000 but me can get the money so me come home and borrow $50,000 from me neighbour and mek up the rest and give he,” he said.
He is claiming that after he handed over the money, the rank promised him that the matter would be settled immediately. According to the man, the next day the boyfriend was released on $15,000 bail.
However, several days after, the relatives of the young man were informed that they would have to visit the police station to give statements.
The man said he then immediately phoned the rank, who hung up the phone on him, after which he became frustrated and then decided to report the bribe.
Meanwhile, when questioned as to what made him decide to hand over the money, the father said he was confused and wanted the matter to be settled, since he did not want his daughter to have to take care of a child on her own.
Furthermore, he said, that he did not report his daughter eloping since she had threatened to commit suicide if relatives sought to separate her from her boyfriend.
Yesterday afternoon the man told Stabroek News that on Sunday, a person claiming to be a relative of the rank visited his house and requested that he return to the station and tell the police that he made a false allegation against the rank after which his money would be returned.
After the man refused to do so, the rank and his relative visited his brother’s house in an attempt to return the money to the family.
The man is also claiming that during that visit the rank threatened his brother, saying that if he loses his job over $100,000 then the family would have to pay.
