The investigation into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger has come to a standstill in the absence of a confrontation that was ordered to be held with another witness.
Contacted for an update on the investigation yesterday, a reliable source told Stabroek News that the police’s legal advisor had recommended that it be placed on hold.
The source said that despite several efforts, the police were unable to hold the confrontation owing to the reluctance of the witness to come forward.
A previous confrontation was held with the complainant, the source added, who, initially, was also hesitant to cooperate.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, during one of his weekly post-Cabinet press briefings held last month had confirmed that there had been a report of a plot by a group of men to assassinate the President during one of his outreaches.
The following day, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had told reporters that the matter had been investigated and the file returned to the police for further work. “Actually [there] was a witness that the police contacted and … the police legal advisor asked that we confront him with the person making the allegation to clear some issues and then to resend [the file],” he had explained.
“There are two individuals, the person making the allegation and a witness who has given the police a statement,” Persaud said, explaining, “witness meaning someone who would be able to give evidence to state whether this happened or did not happen.”
The Guyana Police Force had also refuted claims by MTV News Update Ch 65, that senior ranks of the force were involved in the alleged plot. “This false and malicious accusation levelled against members of the force is designed to tarnish the good reputation of the organisation,” the police had said.
However, last week, an alleged witness had told investigators that the man who claimed he was approached to participate in an assassination plot against the president offered him money to corroborate the story.
The police had held a confrontation between the complainant and a man who he said could verify his story. The complainant turned up at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters after unsuccessful attempts were made by police to contact him.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had confirmed that a confrontation, as was advised by the police force’s legal adviser, was held between the complainant and an individual whose identity was not revealed. The Crime Chief did not release any details about what had occurred during the confrontation.
However, Stabroek News was able to confirm that the purported witness related a story in the presence of the complainant and investigators and the complainant was subsequently offered an opportunity to respond.
A well-placed source had disclosed that the purported witness told the police that the complainant approached him after making a report to the police of the alleged plot to assassinate the President, and asked him if he could support his story by going to the police and giving a statement saying that he was present when a businessman offered the complainant money to assassinate the President. Further, the purported witness stated that the complainant offered him money in exchange for him supporting the complainant’s report.
