Police in Berbice have launched an investigation into allegations that at least one rank demanded money from a man who was held with US$50,000 at a road block last month.
A senior police official explained that several weeks ago an employee of an East Coast Demerara businessman was held at Albion by police with the cash and was later taken to the police station where he was questioned about its origin.
It was later learnt that that the man’s employer who owns an auto dealership and electronic store would usually borrow from a city cambio on a “hold over” basis. The official explained that on the day he was held the staff member took the money to a location at Springlands to pay for some items for his employer but was unable to complete the transaction. The man decided to return to his employer with the money but was stopped at the roadblock by the police.
The official stressed that the money the man was found with did not belong to him but because of the amount, the ranks became suspicious and took him to the station for questioning.
It was based on information gathered that the man was released from custody.
The official stressed that the man was held with US$50,000 and not US$250,000 as was reported in a section of the media. The official also could not say if the man was Surinamese.
Shortly after being released from custody, the man made the allegation that money was demanded from him. As such the man, his employer and the city cambio dealer will be meeting with senior Berbice police officers tomorrow to discuss this later development.
The police official assured this newspaper that the matter will be investigated thoroughly.
