An Ireland-based fraud company has been brought in to provide training and give expert advice to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and its director Dr. Sam Sittlington has already detected a number of areas which he says need addressing if it is to function effectively.
“There are things that I am seeing that needs improvement… There are things that are very good”, Sittlington who runs The Fraud Company told reporters yesterday moments after the Guyana office of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was officially opened at the US Embassy in Kingston.
The former police investigator and expert on fraud, money laundering and related areas recently arrived in Guyana and he said that from his observations “there are a lot of issues”. He however declined to share them with the media explaining that such a move would be inappropriate since he is only halfway through the process.
He assured that the media will be invited when he delivers a structural debriefing on his findings later this month.
According to Sittlington, it is the job of SOCU to take money away from drug traffickers. He said that if SOCU does not have the resources or the manpower to cater for all of the new seizures that are taking place then the process will fail. “So we need to make sure it evolves and there is a transition, that the strengthening of all agencies takes place as a result of this DEA involvement”, he said.
Asked if Guyana is on the right path when it comes to money laundering, Sittlington did not provide a direct answer. He reiterated that since his presence here he has seen some good things but there are issues within the unit.
He used the opportunity to stress on the need for collaboration of all sectors including the judiciary to ensure that the process works.
Sittlington said that he is presently mentoring and assisting SOCU with their investigations. He said that his remit includes looking at key agencies and stakeholders in this process and so far he has spoken to the acting chief justice, the Financial Intelligence Unit, CANU, police intelligence and other agencies including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Questions have been raised about how SOCU is operating. The unit was set up in 2014 by the then PPP/C government to deal primarily with investigating suspected cases of money laundering and the financing of terrorism. SOCU falls under the Guyana Police Force but it is still not clear if its mandate allows for assistance from the regular complement of the force and the army. As it stands, SOCU has its own staff including investigators. It is headed by Sydney James who is an army intelligence office who was given an Assistant Commissioner rank which enables him to take up the helm of the unit.
Recent operation
James yesterday was tightlipped on a recent operation which led to the arrest of two persons and the detention of money – local and foreign currency. The duo are suspected money launderers.
When asked about the operation which involved four locations, he said that the matter is presently attracting the attention of the Chief Justice and as such “it would be prejudicial and disrespectful” to comment. He assured that when an opportunity presented itself he would update the media.
He confirmed later that the duo has been released and that the operation targeted areas along the East Coast and East Bank.
James declined to state the exact sum of money SOCU ranks intercepted. “Well it was significant amounts of both local and foreign currency. I wouldn’t want to go into the specifics of the currency seized”, he said.
He said that the legislation that is in place is helping the unit and he noted that the prosecution of persons charged under this law does not fall under it. “That’s the legal remit and as far as I am aware a number of matters are intended for prosecutions by the courts …”, he said.
Meanwhile, James revealed that ranks made another jewellery seizure at an airport last Friday. He did not provide details and declined to name the airport. This seizure follows one last month which had since triggered a multimillion-dollar lawsuit.
On January 19 gold and silver neckwear and a gold and silver wristband together valued at approximately $4 million ‒ were seized from Better Hope goldsmith Richard Ramjit as he was preparing to board a flight for the USA. The jewellery is in the possession of SOCU.
With regards to the US-led investigation into former Health Minister Dr Noel Blackman, he said that the unit is prepared to offer assistance if needs be.
Blackman was on Sunday charged over a pain pills scheme. He was arrested at the John F Kennedy Airport as he was preparing to leave for Guyana. He was recently named to chair the board of the Georgetown Hospital Corporation and is the owner of HBTV, Channel Nine.
