A Police Detective Sergeant from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was yesterday charged by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) with larceny by public officer.
Elfannando Newman of Lot 1699, Plot B, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was taken before the Diamond\Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court where the charge was read to him by Magistrate Sunil Scarce.
The charge against Newman states that between February 27th and March 1st of 2021, at the Timehri Police Station, EBD, and whilst being employed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), he stole three large bulky parcels of cannabis sativa which was said to be 3,122 grams.
The man pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $100,000. The matter was then adjourned until July 8th for statements to be filed with the court.
SOCU in a statement yesterday said that as a result of a civil forfeiture investigation conducted by them in September of 2021, SOCU ranks went to the Timehri Police Station to conduct further investigations and it was revealed that a quantity of cannabis that should have been lodged by Newman on February 27th, 2021, was never lodged and as such, was reported stolen.
The statement further said that it was revealed that on the said date, the ranks who were stationed at the Highway Police Patrol Base conducted a search on a motorcar that had three occupants, two males and a female, where they found 3 large parcels of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be narcotics and which had weighed about 45 to 50 pounds.
During the search, one of the males, who was said to be the driver of the car, had offered the rank who found the narcotics, 2 million dollars cash, and 3 ounces of gold, however, the rank refused the offer.
As such, the suspected narcotics along with the suspects were escorted to the Timehri Police Station where they were all handed over to Sergeant Newman, who weighed the said narcotics and said that it was 3,122 grams.
SOCU, in their release said that Newman failed to lodge the narcotics that were handed over to him and it was therefore reported stolen.
It is unclear why the charge has only now been brought.
