Two policemen were yesterday jointly charged with demanding bribes from members of the public, raising the number of lawmen charged to eight in two days.
Constable Bryan Peters and Corporal Robert Semple yesterday pleaded not guilty after being charged jointly with demanding money with menace when they appeared before acting Chief Magis-trate Melissa Robertson. Peters was further charged for simple larceny and common assault, to which he also pleaded not guilty.
Peters, 32, of 103 Croal Street, Stabroek is a constable who has been attached to the police force for the past 14 years. Meanwhile, Semple, 54, a father of 13, who resides at Hopetown Village West Coast Berbice, is a corporal who has been on the force for 33 years.
It is alleged that on May 6, 2008 at Sherima Police Station, Bartica, with menace, Peters and Semple demanded money from Lindomar DeBaras, with intent to steal same. According to Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith, DeBaras and her husband are Brazilians and were intercepted by constable Peters on their way into Guyana at the Guyana/Brazil border. This, Griffith said, is normal, as the officers would have to conduct routine checks.
Semple, however, according to Griffith, told DeBaras and her husband that “they were not interested in searching their vehicle” and demanded money instead. Prosecutor Griffith further stated that after the VC explained that they had no money, Semple pushed his hands into DeBaras’ husband’s pockets and relieved him of the cash he had. After this was done, Griffith said, Semple then ordered DeBaras to go to Peters, who also demanded more money from DeBaras’ husband. By this time, Griffith said, DeBaras intervened to find out what the problem was and Peters “chucked her,” which resulted in the common assault charge. His charge of simple larceny arose because he allegedly stole the sum of $4,000 from DeBaras also on the same day.
Initially, only Peters had appeared in court yesterday morning. He was unrepresented and was not required to plead to the charge of demanding money due to Semple’s absence. When given a chance by the Magistrate to speak, Peters declined. The Magistrate subsequently ordered that an arrest warrant be issued for Semple. Yesterday afternoon, however, Semple surfaced with his lawyer Patrice Henry and Peters returned.
Henry, along with attorneys Raphael Trotman and Hukumchand represented the defendants.
Henry told the court that his client handed himself over to the police and he made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum on the grounds that the defendants posed no risk of flight. Bail was, however, subsequently refused and their case was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for February 18.
Since Tuesday, a total of eight policemen all pleaded not guilty to charges of demanding money with menace.
On Tuesday, two Tactical Services Unit (TSU) constables Kelon Jack, 23, of 26 Plantain Walk (WBD) and Dennis Raphael, 22, were charged with demanding $12,000 with intent to steal from David Persaud in order to avoid prosecution for drug trafficking. They were, however, subsequently refused bail and the case was transferred to court five for February 16 for statements.
Minutes after the duo answered to their charge, a quartet of policemen also attached to the TSU was charged over a separate incident. Corporal Tyron Edwards, 38, Constable John Blake, 24, Constable Carl Ifill, 40, and Constable Jason Odonogue, 23, denied the charge of demanding money with menace.
It was alleged that last Wednesday they demanded the sum of $500,000 for the purpose of stealing and protecting Gavin Shepherd from a drug trafficking charge. Bail was refused and their matter was transferred to Court Three for February 16 for statements.