Several persons including the director of the Ministry of Health’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara drugs bond, Cecil Jacques, who were arrested by the police earlier this week in relation to the theft of supplies from the facility have been released from police custody.
Contacted for an update yesterday, Police Com-mander of Region 4 ‘C’, Denise Griffith told Stabroek News that the suspects were released on bail on Wednesday.
Griffith said that the investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
Jacques and a number of his staff were taken into police custody for questioning in relation to the matter on Tuesday morning.
During last month, bond attendant, Terrence Williams; a retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer and a doctor, were arrested as part of the probe.
Williams was eventually remanded on five charges including the unlawful possession of guns and bribery.
The doctor and retired GDF officer were released several days after.
Williams was arrested about three weeks ago following the discovery of firearms and ammunition along with a large quantity of cash in a vehicle registered to him at the bond.
Police suspect that he, along with others, stole and sold a quantity of pharmaceutical products and other medical supplies from the bond.
He was taken into custody after the police, who were responding to a report of larceny at the bond, carried out a search on a car, PAB 3032, and found a duffel bag containing a 9mm pistol and two rounds of 9mm ammunition, a .380 pistol with a magazine containing seven matching rounds of ammunition, and a total of $4,580,000 in cash, including US currency. There were 20 rounds of .380 ammunition in the side pocket of the bag, the police also said.
The police had reported that Williams, upon being cautioned on the offence, attempted to offer a bribe to a rank to secure his freedom.
He was taken to the Golden Grove Police Station, Criminal Investigation Department office and while being questioned about the unlicensed firearms and ammunition, the police said he requested his bag and withdrew and offered the police investigators $1,750,000 cash to forego the said charges.
At this point, the police said that he was duly informed of the new offence committed – Corrupt Transaction with Agent – cautioned and he replied “Well sir tek de whole bag a money, all I want is me freedom”.
During the early stages of the probe, a number of other Health Ministry workers were also questioned and detained over the alleged larceny but they too were later released due to insufficient evidence.
An audit is currently underway at the drugs bond to determine how many items were stolen and their value. Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony had previously indicated that the audit is scheduled to be completed in a week’s time.
