Cops probing alleged threats made to Simona Broomes

Simona Broomes
Simona Broomes

The police are investigating allegations made by former minister Simona Broomes, who has said she was threatened at her home early yesterday morning.

Police Commander of Region 4(a) Phillip Azore yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News that the matter is being investigated by ranks of the Turkeyen Police Station.

It was unclear up to last evening if the two men who were subsequently confronted by Broomes after she followed them were in police custody.

When contacted by Stabroek News yesterday, Broomes refused to comment on the matter. She said she was not engaging the media. “I am not speaking with the media right now,” she said.

In a live video broadcast on her Facebook page yesterday morning, Broomes, who appeared to be seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, was seen following a white car, bearing registration plate PYY 5565.

In the video, Broomes recounted that she was carrying out her normal morning routine when an individual, allegedly armed with a hammer, showed up at her property and removed several “no fishing” signs.

(Previously persons in her neighbourhood said that they fished in the trenches in the area until the minister took up residence and the signs were erected. She has said that the signs were erected for security purposes as robbers sometimes posed as fishers.)

She also alleged that the individual said he wanted to show who was in power and running the country, while also using expletives towards her.  She alleged that she was also threatened with a gun.

After removing the signs, she said, the individual got into the white car, which was parked a short distance away, and it drove off. 

Broomes trailed the vehicle to Sophia, where two men exited and she followed behind. One of them was carrying the no fishing signs and a hammer. After shots were fired by another individual, believed to be the person who was driving Broomes, she confronted the men and repeatedly asked who sent them.

After residents in the area were alerted, a crowd gathered and the interrogation of the men continued.