The bodyguard of former minister Simona Broomes was released from police custody on Friday after the being held for three days without charge on allegations that he threatened and wounded a city councillor during a confrontation in Sophia.
Early last week Broomes and her bodyguard, who also serves as her driver, were both faced with the allegations by the city councilor, Dion Younge, of the PPP/C, who was one of two men that they confronted after she was allegedly threatened at her Meadowbrook home.
Both Broomes and the bodyguard were questioned by investigators and the bodyguard was held by police afterward.
New Commander of Region 4(A), Assistant Commissioner Simon Mc Bean, yesterday refuted claims that the detention of the bodyguard was an act of victimisation. According to McBean, investigations take time and ranks working the case were simply following the process of an investigation. He noted that in some cases, evidence surfaces during the early stages of an investigation, while in others it may take “a day or two or even longer.”
After being questioned Broomes was released on Tuesday.
A firearm, which was allegedly used by the bodyguard, has since been lodged with the police.
Broomes on Tuesday said in a live video posted on Facebook that it was when she went to the police to make a report that she found out that allegations had been made against her by Younge.
She said her report was not taken and instead the allegations made against her and her driver were the priorities of the police, who informed her that when they are ready to deal with her complaints, they would contact her.
She related that she was told that Younge alleged that she threatened and wounded him, and that the bodyguard fired several rounds at him and also assaulted him.
Broomes said her driver, who was a rural constable and was armed with a service weapon, was later told that he could not leave as the ranks had received “instructions” from Brickdam. “I did not break the law,” she declared before denying that she wounded or threatened Younge. “I did nothing wrong.”
On Monday, Broomes posted a live video on her Facebook page that showed the confrontation. The video began with Broomes sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, which was 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 that she had erected.
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.
Broomes alleged that the individual who threatened her 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, including Younge, and repeatedly asked who sent them.
After residents in the area were alerted, a crowd gathered and the interrogation of the men continued.
At one point Younge appeared to have been slapped and blood was later visible on his shirt.
