The reportedly ‘missing’ police corporal, who has been implicated in connection with the smuggling of an AK-47 rifle out of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) compound, at Eve Leary, yesterday afternoon turned himself over to the police in the company of his lawyer.
This development came one day after the Guyana Police Force had stated that Corporal 18404 Shavon Marks, who was under investigation, left the Brickdam Police Station, where he had been confined.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that Marks was back under police confinement, but at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary.
In a brief statement issued yesterday afternoon, the police said around 5.30pm, Marks turned himself over to the police in company of his lawyer.
This newspaper had reported on Thursday that Marks, who was placed under open arrest on Monday, after his initial detention period expired, reported sick and left for Berbice and had not returned up to Wednesday evening.
Information had revealed that while on open arrest, Marks was confined to the Brickdam Police Station, where instructions were given for him not to leave the compound. It is not clear how he had managed to leave.
The police, in a subsequent statement, had said, “The disappearance of this Subordinate Officer, based on initial enquiries seemed to have occurred sometime on Sunday night last but was officially reported to Police Headquarters about 15:00 hrs yesterday [Wednesday].”
Five members of the Guyana Police Force, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), were placed under close arrest after it was alleged that they had smuggled the high-powered rifle out of the TSU compound.
Three of them were subsequently allowed to go about their daily lives under open arrest, while the two others, including Marks, remained under close arrest with police supervision.
This newspaper was reliably informed that acting on information received, the police conducted an operation during which they followed a car that had just left the TSU compound. The car was intercepted at Carmichael Street and during a search, the high-powered rifle was discovered.
The driver was promptly searched and taken into custody. During questioning, he reportedly implicated Marks and the ASP.
Records on the driver’s phone revealed that during the time the car entered and left the TSU compound, several calls were made to the corporal.
It is alleged that the ASP colluded with the corporal to sell the weapon.
Blanhum had told reporters on Wednesday last that the police had completed their investigation and the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
He had also disclosed that the Corporal was placed under open arrest and that the investigators had recommended disciplinary charges for the ASP and other ranks who were on duty on the night of the incident.
Marks was supposed to appear in court that very day, but was a no show.
