The audit of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) that was initiated after reports of grave mismanagement is still continuing more than a month after it commenced.
Stabroek News understands that members of the Guyana Police Force’s Audit Department are still looking at documents that were submitted as part of the investigation. These documents include receipts of purchases made for the unit.
SOCU’s head, Assistant Commissioner Sydney James, was questioned and this newspaper was told on Thursday that statements were being taken from staff members.
Claims of grave mismanagement by sacked British advisor Dr Sam Sittlington and some SOCU staff triggered the audit. The concerns that were highlighted centred on the spending of operational funds, which ought to cater for basic things, such as the purchase of toiletries and credit for investigators and other staff, and the arrangement for the storage of seized cash.
Sittlington had told this newspaper that tensions arose between him and James, a former army intelligence officer, when he began to question the spending of funds set aside for the operation of the unit and requested “certain information” late last year. James was appointed by then president Donald Ramotar in September, 2014.
Sittlington said that from his observations, items such as printers, ink, paper and toiletries, which are essential to the smooth functioning of the office and the comfort of those who work there, were not available. Additionally, he said, investigators were not being given credit for their phones and there was no internet available.
He said he managed to procure a printer for the office but added that for three months, there was no ink before he eventually managed to get the required funds from the British High Commission to purchase it.
SOCU officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that in violation of anti-money laundering laws, seized cash is being kept at the unit and in some cases at the Guyana Police Force’s Finance Department. It was explained that the money ought to be in an interest bearing account. The staff said concerns over the state of affairs were raised on numerous occasions but nothing was done.
Sittlington himself had said late last year he raised the issue with a senior police officer who promised to take action but nothing was done.
Following the publication of Sittlington’s concerns by this newspaper, the Guyana Police Force’s Audit Department met with SOCU’s head and based on a request, certain documents, including receipts for items bought for the office, were to be submitted as part of an audit. Those were submitted several days later, this newspaper was told.
