Crime Chief Lyndon Alves has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the recent exposure of a network of alleged corruption in the Guyana Police Force’s ‘B’ Division (Berbice).
This was confirmed by Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Paul Williams, who told Stabroek News last evening that he only learnt of the suspension yesterday morning.
“Yes he was suspended…,” Williams told Stabroek News.
He said he is unaware what might have prompted this action to be taken.
However, Stabroek News was reliably informed that Alves was sent on leave in order to facilitate the corruption probe.
It remains unclear from when the decision was effective.
When contacted by Stabroek News yesterday, Alves said, “I have no comment on that at this time.”
He referred this newspaper to the Commissioner of Police (Ag) Nigel Hoppie or the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Jairam Ramlakhan.
However, several calls made by this newspaper to Hoppie went unanswered, while Ramlakhan said up to yesterday afternoon he was not informed of any suspension.
Up to late last evening, the force remained silent on the suspension.
The suspension of Alves came days after the force broke its silence on media reports of corruption activities in the division by stating that an internal investigation was being undertaken by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
“The Guyana Police Force has noted recently articles in the print and electronic media of alleged corruption by members of the Force with particular reference to ranks from its Berbice Division, claiming that no action is being taken by the Force’s administration. The Guyana Police Force wishes to state that contrary to what is being reported, this matter is currently being investigated by its internal investigative organ, the Office of Professional Responsibility,” the police statement had said.
Recently, a number of police officers have spoken out about alleged corrupt practices.
Several policemen, on condition of anonymity, have told this newspaper about corruption associated with a senior policeman who was previously stationed in Berbice but is now assigned to Georgetown.
Ranks, who say they were breaking their silence after their reports of his activities fell on deaf ears within the division, have also identified several junior ranks who have reportedly aided the senior rank in his activities, which are said to include offering protection from prosecution to persons accused of crimes.
In Stabroek News’ first report, a group of junior ranks spoke out about a Lance Corporal and other ranks who were alleged to have been linked to a murder accused, Kelvin Shivgobin, who was recently killed during a shootout with police in Black Bush Polder, Berbice.
It was alleged that their numbers were found stored and in the call log of the mobile phone of the dead man. The senior officer was accused of protecting those ranks linked to the dead man as they purportedly aid him in his activities in the division.
The senior rank in question has also allegedly accused two detective constables in ‘B’ Division of being sources behind news reports, which has resulted in them being transferred.
More recently, it has been alleged that two police ranks linked to the corruption racket in Berbice have been fingered in a plot to kill another police officer.
A reliable source stated that information has been circulating indicating that two officers referenced in previous Stabroek News articles were promised a total of $3 million to carry out the hit.
The source said that the ranks in question, the Lance Corporal and the Detective Constable, allegedly received $1.4 million about two weeks ago to carry out the hit and were promised that the remaining amount would be paid once the job was completed.
The money, according to information provided to this newspaper, was paid from a known drug dealer to the Detective Constable in the East Bank Berbice area.
Stabroek News was told that senior officers in ‘B’ Division were furnished with the information about the alleged hit on the officer. However, they reportedly asked that the informant providing the information to the sources be brought to them.
Even more frightening to ranks within the division was the fact that the Detective Constable who was allegedly paid to carry out the hit had been fingered in the execution-style killing of a policeman in September of 2012.
In that case, Detective Constable 20682, Jirbahan Dianand, 23, of Lot 70, Number 64 Village, Corentyne, was found dead, shot to the head execution-style in his car along the road at Jackson Creek, Corentyne.
After the allegations were published, several police officers were transferred.
On Monday, the opposition People’s Progressive Party called on President David Granger to order a “wider probe” into the allegations.
Alves was appointed the post of Crime Chief in September last year.
Senior Superintendent Michael Kingston is currently acting as the country’s Crime Chief.
