A Guyana Police Force (GPF) Finance Officer yesterday faced two counts of conspiracy to defraud the Force of over $1.8 million.
Assistant Superinten-dent Kurt Smith, who was jointly charged with Super-intendent Lorraine Saul, was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the two indictable charges to him. Saul is presently overseas.
It is alleged that between December 18, 2020 and December 28, 2020, at Georgetown, they conspired with each other and with other persons, while being officers of the Guyana Police Force, to falsify payments amounting to $1,350,000, purporting to show that meals were supplied to ranks of the Riot Unit training during December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2020.
It is also alleged that between December 18, 2020 and December 28, 2020 at Georgetown, they conspired with each other and with other persons, while being officers of the Guyana Police Force, to falsify payments amounting to $465,000 purporting to show that meals were supplied to ranks of the Riot Unit training during December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2020.
Special Organized Crime Unit Prosecutor Patrice Henry said that Smith was appointed as the GPF’s Finance Officer and as part of his duties he was required to approve the use of the moneys as is advised by his superiors. He was charged based on the findings of an audit that was conducted.
Smith was placed on $100,000 bail for each charge. The matters will be called again on May 14.
A number of police officers have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the GPF as a result of the audit, which was conducted by the Auditor General and following further investigations done by the police.
Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Kevin Adonis, of Lot 95 Stewart-ville, West Bank Deme-rara, Police Sergeant Michael Corbin, of Lot 315 First Avenue, Parfait Har-monie, West Bank Deme-rara, Police Sergeant Jermaine Fraser, of Lot 4116 Phase One Westmin-ster, also on the West Bank, and Police Corporal Rawl Haynes, of Lot 2 Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo were last month charged with conspiring to steal over $19 million from the Guy-ana Police Force (GPF) and placed on $750,000 bail.
