The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who is accused of taking a bribe of $100,000 to make a statutory rape charge disappear was placed under close arrest late Monday afternoon.
This was confirmed by multiple sources to Stabroek News.
According to one source, the accused cop is being held at the Tactical Services Unit in Georgetown.
Additionally, the source noted, detectives from Georgetown were present in the division yesterday to investigate the allegation against the rank.
The senior cop was then placed to work in B Division, where he was stationed on the Corentyne up until two Mondays ago when he was removed and placed to work at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam.
He was placed under close arrest from the Central Police Station, sources noted yesterday.
Last Friday, a resident of West Coast Berbice filed a report against the senior policeman, which led to an internal investigation being launched.
The complainant’s daughter, 14, eloped with her boyfriend, 18, and later became pregnant, which resulted in a nurse at a clinic reporting the case to the Childcare and Protection Agency, which in turn led to the notification of the police.
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 had 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 had 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.
The man has also alleged that the implicated rank and a relative have tried to return his money and have threatened that if he loses his job over $100,000 then the complainant’s family would have to pay.
When contacted yesterday the man said that he was not asked by any Georgetown detectives to provide any further necessary information or statements.
Stabroek News understand that it is not the first time the rank has been the subject of an investigation.
The rank was charged in September, 2018, with wrongfully restraining a taxi driver. Both he and another police officer, who was charged with assaulting the same taxi driver, were reportedly running a bar where an argument occurred with the taxi driver after which he was allegedly locked in a toilet by the ranks. However, in November, 2018, the charges were reportedly withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecution after reviewing the case files.
