Three policemen were yesterday accused of taking a $360,000 bribe from a man who was allegedly found with drugs and a gun.
The man who allegedly bribed them was also charged and his lawyer said that he had given a statement indicating that he no longer wished to proceed with the matter, when the case as called before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
All of the accused, who were not required to plead to the indictable charges, were given bail in the amount of $50,000.
It is alleged that Collin Mackintosh, 33, of Lot 119 Middle Street, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, Glendon Sergeant, 30, of 226 Garnett Street, Kitty, and Damien Bynoe, 25, of 224 Lamaha Springs, Joint Services Housing Scheme, being agents of the Government of Guyana, obtained $360,000 from Raphael De Souza as a reward for forgoing prosecution of him over possession of narcotics and a firearm.
Mackintosh, who is a member of the Tactical Services Unit with 12 years in the police force; Bynoe, who is also a member of the Tactical Services Unit; and Sergeant, who has four years of service in the police force, are alleged to have committed the offence on July 12 in Georgetown.
De Souza, 33, meanwhile, was charged with corrupt transaction by agent, based on the allegation that on July 12, he offered Mackintosh, Bynoe and Sergeant the sum of $360,000 as a reward for forgoing prosecution against him with regard to possession of narcotics and a firearm.
No further details of the charges were provided to the court.
However, attorney James Bond, who represented De Souza, appealed for bail on his client’s behalf. He described the man as a professional expeditor, who had never had any previous matters before the courts and did not pose a flight risk.
Bond claimed that his client gave two sets of statements in which he said that he did not want to proceed in the matter and that he was innocent of the charge put against him.
The prosecution had no objection to bail but requested that Mackintosh, Bynoe and Sergeant report to the Brickdam Police Station every Friday at 9 am.
All four men were granted bail and the cases were adjourned until October 8, when they will be called at Court One.
