Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday said the safety and security of Detective Sergeant Dion Bascom is the “top priority” and he should therefore be put in a “safe place” instead of being penalised.
“…..The safety and security of Sergeant Basom is top priority and must be provided for. Not a criminal prosecution,” Ramjattan said as he addressed the issue during a press conference.
Ramjattan said the AFC urges that a “thorough, credible” investigation be completed into the allegations levelled by Bascom and that he be placed in a “safe place without any penalising prosecution dangling over him”.
“…To go the gamut of nailing him to the cross with charges and an intended prosecution after seeking the advice of the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) will only add to a national distress,” Ramjattan said.
Two weeks ago, Bascom went public following his arrest in connection with a drug bust to air his frustrations over what he described as mistreatment that he and other ranks have faced while serving the Guyana Police Force.
During a live Facebook video, which has since been removed, Bascom made allegations regarding the stalled Ricardo Fagundes murder probe, saying he believed his life was under threat and that his arrest was part of the conspiracy to initiate his killing and that there was a cover-up by police of the slaying.
He also claimed that a senior policeman was paid $30 million to bury the Fagundes case and implicated others as being linked to the crime, prompting the threat of lawsuits.
Bascom had claimed that he was one of the officers who arrived at the scene following the shooting of Fagundes. According to Bascom, he and other officers were able to track the phone used by the prime suspect and the calls he made before and after the shooting.
He had also further alleged that he played a key role in pursuing one of the suspects in the murder of Fagundes.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has since dismissed Bascom’s claims, by describing them as “malicious and untrue”.
After he made the allegations, Bascom proceeded on sick leave.
Bascom, who had made a request to President Irfaan Ali for witness protection, has since returned to duty.
His return to duty was confirmed by his attorney, Nigel Hughes. He has returned to his posting in Essequibo after a previous request to be reassigned went unaddressed.
The Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigated the matter and their findings along with recommendations were forwarded to the DPP’s Chambers for legal advice.
Stabroek News was reliably informed on Wednesday that the police received legal advice to institute several criminal charges against Bascom. Sources had said Bascom is likely to face a total of seven charges.
Contacted yesterday, Hughes told Stabroek News that Bascom is yet to be informed of the charges.
Earlier this week, President Irfaan Ali disclosed that the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS) has been asked to review the investigation into the murder of Fagundes. The lead investigator of the team is currently in Guyana.
Sources had said “all aspects of the investigation,” including allegations made by Bascom that there was a deliberate attempt by the GPF to cover up the crime, are being looked at.
Fagundes, who was a close friend of Khan, was riddled with bullets by two men outside Palm Court on the evening of Sunday, March 21, last year.
At the time of the attack, he was approaching a parked vehicle owned by convicted drug trafficker, Roger Khan.
An autopsy later confirmed that Fagundes was shot about 20 times about his body. Khan would later say he was the intended target of the attack. The police recovered 30 spent shells at the scene. Sixteen were from an AK-47 rifle, while the other fourteen were from a 9mm weapon. To date, the murder remains unsolved.
