Corruption allegations levelled by junior ranks against Deputy Commissioner of Police Lyndon Alves warranted an independent and robust investigation, Co-President of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) Mike McCormack says.
McCormack told Stabroek News that “young and low ranking” officers making allegations against senior ranks is not something that is a usual, given what they stand to lose, and as a result the investigative process that is employed would need to be a transparent one that can stand up to scrutiny.
“In a case like this, where a very senior policeman is accused of things by very junior ranks, it is particularly important that the process be independent because they are putting themselves at risk, more than usual risk, by doing this… in this case, the onus, for me, would be the procedure demonstrating transparently that the allegation/s doesn’t have foundations as well,” he said.
In late June, Alves, the Crime Chief, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which had been triggered by the exposure of an alleged network of corruption in the Guyana Police Force’s ‘B’ Division (Berbice).
The move came days after the force broke its silence on media reports about corrupt activities in the division by stating that an internal investigation was being undertaken by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
A number of police officers had spoken out about alleged corrupt practices in the division.
Several policemen, on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper about corruption associated with a senior officer.
Ranks, who said they were breaking their silence after their reports about his activities fell on deaf ears within the division, also identified several junior ranks who had reportedly aided the senior rank in his activities, which were said to include offering protection from prosecution to persons accused of crimes.
After the allegations were published, several police officers were transferred.
Commissioner of Police Leslie James recently told reporters that an internal investigation cleared Alves of any criminal misconduct. “What I can say to you is that the investigation has been completed and I have obtained a file and in terms of criminal conduct, Mr Alves has been cleared,” James had said.
Following the disclosure, concerns were raised by members of the public as to who exactly investigated Alves and whether the investigation was done by someone senior to him.
Alves is one of the four Deputy Commissioners of the Guyana Police Force. The only person senior to them is James.
McCormack said that a more in-depth explanation ought to be provided regarding the investigation itself.
“It’s a pity the Commissioner did not explain his actions more rather than just saying nothing criminal was found… the final conclusion has to be that these young officers were reckless or even if he had said the allegations were not unreasonable but in fact they misread the situation or they were misinformed,” McCormack noted.
Police investigating themselves
McCormack further said that having the investigation being done by the OPR by itself raised a lot of concern.
“…The second thing is the issue of police investigating themselves in any event because many of the issues that are often dealt with in terms of these complaints, if they were committed by civilians, would be crimes… so that’s is the second reason [for] a more robust investigatory process that is insulated from the possibility of repercussions in terms of promotions or career related issues,” he said.
Contacted last week, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan told Stabroek News that after the allegations had surfaced, he had personally ordered that an investigation be conducted by the OPR.
“…That is what we wanted and I had asked that there be an investigation in view of the allegations being made by these cops and it warranted an investigation. As minister, that is what you do,” Ramjattan had said.
The OPR was set up to investigate allegations/complaints involving members of the force.
Ramjattan noted that despite Alves’ seniority, he could be questioned by OPR and he added that he saw nothing wrong with that. “…The OPR can question him (Alves)… the police can investigate the police yes. The police can investigate judges, the police can investigate the president… why they can’t investigate policemen? I see nothing wrong,” Ramjattan said.
“…And if he (Alves) is now cleared by virtue of the investigation, so what you want only the Commissioner coulda investigate a Deputy Commissioner? I think it is totally illogical,” he had added.
McCormack stated that the investigatory process was not satisfactory while adding that the public needs assurance that the probe was not “coloured or tainted” by the fact of it being internal to the police force.
“…The public needs assurance in cases like this that the process employed is fair, both to the people who make the complaints and to the officer [against whom] the allegations are made. In this case, it is not satisfactory and the fact that the issue was sufficiently serious that the minister himself ordered the investigation rather than the Police Commissioner is additional reason why the public should have heard that this was a robust and independent and impartial investigation,” he said.
The process, he noted, does not encourage transparency within the Guyana Police Force. “The impression you are left with is that the people who made the allegations were reckless and so the notion of whistleblowing, which should be encouraged in any public institution, is also something that’s discouraged by processes of this nature,” McCormack noted.
