The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) yesterday instituted charges against three members of the Guyana Police Force over the falsifying of a feeding account and the deletion of data.
Deputy Superintendent, Frank Jackman-Wilburg, and two Police Constables, Jenneka Carmichael, of Lot 121 Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice, and Tatayana Smith, aged 21, of 43 Third Street Alberttown, Georgetown, made their appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where the charges were read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Jackman-Wilburg is charged alongside Superintendent Marcelene Washington and former Deputy Commander of Division 4 ‘B’, Woman Superintendent, Lorraine Saul. However, SOCU prosecutor, attorney-at-law Leslyn Noble informed the court that the other two accused are not in the jurisdiction. For this reason the Magistrate read the charge to Jackman-Wilburg, only.
It is alleged that the trio, between November 2, 2020 and December 3, 2020, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Eve Leary, Kingston, with intent to defraud, conspired with each other and other persons while being employed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), to falsify an account, being the feeding account in the sum of $2,246,400, in relation to meals purportedly issued by the Felix Austin Police College Mess to ranks who performed fixed point duty at the Mounted Branch between the period October 16, 2020 and October 31, 2020. It was also alleged that the trio also did the same in the sum of $1.4 million.
Jackman-Wilburg was placed on $150,000 bail on each of the indictable charges. His matter was adjourned until May 14.
The Chief Magistrate then read a similar charge to Carmichael and Smith and they were granted bail in the sum, $150,000 each.
It is alleged that the two, on January 28, 2021 and February 04, 2021, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown, intentionally and without lawful excuse or justification, deleted electronic data from the Guyana Police Force computer that was in the administrative office of the Felix Austin Police College mess.
Attorneys-at-law, Edrianna Stephens and Bernard DaSilva represented Carmichael and Smith respectively. The matter was adjourned until May 6.
SOCU had instituted charges of the same nature against a number of GPF members after an investigation was conducted by the Auditor General. Since then, the police have also acted on the audit findings.
Earlier in the month, Assistant Superintendent Kurt Smith was jointly charged with Saul, for allegedly falsifying payments amounting to $1,350,000, and $465,000, purporting to show that meals were supplied to ranks of the Riot Unit training during December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2020. Smith was released on $100,000 bail.
Meanwhile, retired Assistant Police Commissioner Kevin Adonis, of Lot 95 Stewartville, West Bank Demerara; Police Sergeant Michael Corbin, of Lot 315 First Avenue, Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara; Police Sergeant Jermaine Fraser, of Lot 4116 Phase One Westminster, 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 Guyana Police Force (GPF) and placed on $750,000 bail.
