The three police officers who were hauled in for questioning after $3.4 million went missing from the Eve Leary Finance Office have been released.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday afternoon that the file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecu-tions for advice. The 72 hours during which persons can be kept in custody ended yesterday.

Persaud could not say more regarding the case.

Police had said in a release that “investigations are being conducted into the larceny of $3.4 million from the Police Finance Office, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, which was discovered at about 0900 h” on Tuesday. According to the release, “there were no signs of any breakage to the office”. The money, Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker has since said, was discovered missing when a check was made on Tuesday morning for the enveloped cash left in the canister. The canister had been secured in a locked cashier cage.

The Finance Office is located on the northern side of the compound (Rabbit Walk), a short distance from Commissioner of Police Henry Greene’s office. It is one of the most secure areas in the compound; ranks are assigned to guard and patrol the location day and night.

This incident is the latest in a series of crimes that have ensnared the police force. Questions have since surfaced about the police’s ability to investigate this $3.4 million larceny.

Cash held at the Finance Office comes mainly from bail collected at the various police stations, this newspaper had learnt.

The money on hand is used, among other things, to pay travel and meal allowances for senior officers.