Suzette Cornette, a former employee of the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), who is accused of obtaining over $500,000 in cash and items to derail the prosecution of a larceny suspect, made her second court appearance yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
It was alleged that on February 20, at the office of the OPR, Cornette, being an agent of the state, collected $100,000 from Andrew Fung as an inducement to resolve a simple larceny matter against him by forbearing to prosecute him. It was also alleged that she received a total of $52,000 in US and Guyanese currency from Fung on Camp Street and $50,000 from him on Sheriff Street on February 21. It is also alleged that Cornette received $60,000 and a Samsung TV set, valued $320,000, from Fung on February 24, at Camp Street.
Cornette, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday where she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The matter was adjourned to May 3, when it will be heard before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
The court had heard from Cornette’s lawyer at her arraignment on April 7 that it was not Fung who was being investigated but the ranks who were investigating him. It was alleged that Cornette, while at the OPR office, felt as though the officers were not operating in a professional manner and this led to the allegations being brought against her.
