Dear Editor,
I recently read, with much pleasure in the print media, that the police case against Constables Jenneka Carmichael and Tayana Smith was dismissed in the George-town Magistrates’ Court by Magistrate Annette Singh. The two ranks were stationed at the Felix Austin Police College and charged during April 2021, by the infamous Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) with intentionally and without lawful excuse, deleted electronic data from the GPF computer in the administrative office of the Felix Austin Police College Mess. The charge was laid under the Cybercrime Act. The ranks were set free after their attorney-at-law made a no case submission and the Magistrate upheld the submission. I jubilated because in my groundings with numerous members of the Force they all told me that the policewomen were innocent of the charge.
I understand that SOCU was established in 2013 to investigate, exclusively, allegations and reports relating to money laundering and terrorism. It was part of Guyana’s international obligations to strengthen its Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) apparatus. SOCU is however operating outside of that remit. Senior Superintendent Fizal Karimbaksh who has very little training in investigating fraud, serious and complicated crimes was installed as the Head of SOCU. Many of his subordinates lack basic investigating skills. Although SOCU legally comes under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Karimbaksh operates as though SOCU is an autonomous body. He does not report to the Commissioner of Police unless there is a matter for a police to be charged and the Top Cop has to give his written approval. It is alleged that Karimbaksh gets his commands from two political offices south west of his Camp Street office and with ridiculous ease obtains approval for charges to be instituted without proper investigation or compelling evidence from an office in Rabbit Walk not too far from the Seawall. He and his ranks have been performing at their unprofessional best.
The fiasco on October 15, 2021 at the steps of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where Assistant Super-intendent of Police Ramana and team unlawfully arrested and assaulted Paul Slowe, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police who was on his way to answer a charge filed against him by SOCU speaks volumes. It is public knowledge that what SOCU did to Anil Nandall, Dr. Ashnie Singh, Dr. Irfaan Ali, Michael Brassington and others when they were in the opposition was unlawful. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo recently slammed SOCU for its lack of assertive action in dealing with certain matters. Several members of the present opposition have complained about the unprofessional and unethical treatment against them by SOCU. Is it that SOCU is unjustly targeting opposition members and others at the behest of politicians? When last did SOCU conduct a proper investigation and had a successful prosecution in Court, apart from one case where a Nigerian surprisingly pleaded guilty to a fraud charge?
Look out for more persons including a former minister of the government to be unjustly charged by SOCU. SOCU’s established modus operandi is to first file a charge, deny the God given right to be heard of the accused. Thereafter, attempt to administer the caution after charge in breach of the Judges Rules and then investigate. ‘Wow! Unless there is a paradigm shift in the modus of the ‘ investigations’ conducted by SOCU, persons charged by that unit will walk free like the two female police constables alluded to above. The words of Brook Benton’s song keep ringing in my ears, “IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.” Mark my words.
Sincerely,
Clinton Conway
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d)
