The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Detective Sergeant Dion Bascom, who went public accusing the force of corruption, bribery and ‘covering-up’ the murder of Ricardo Fagundes, is expected to be charged today with offences under the country’s cyber-crime laws.
A source told Stabroek News Bascom is expected to appear in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he is expected to be charged with using a computer system to transmit electronic data with intent to humiliate, harass, or cause distress to officers within the GPF contrary to Section 19 (5) (a) of the Cyber Crime Act.
Stabroek News previously reported that the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had advised the GPF to institute criminal charges against Bascom.
Last month Bascom made two live broadcasts on Facebook in which he made numerous allegations regarding the stalled Fagundes murder probe, saying that there was a cover-up by police of the slaying.
He had subsequently been threatened with a lawsuit for statements made about Deputy Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crimes Unit, Superintendent of Police Mitchell Caesar about covering up the March 21st, 2021 murder of Fagundes. He was also sued by businessman Azruddin Mohamed for $200 million over statements made about him in connection with the case.
Bascom, who 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 GPF, had also sought witness protection from President Irfaan Ali under the Protected Disclosures Act.
As a result of Bascom’s claims, Ali asked the Regional Security Service (RSS) to review the police’s investigation of the Fagundes case. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main objectives of the RSS review were to determine whether the GPF had effectively investigated the unlawful killing\homicide of Fagundes to determine whether there is any evidence to support any wrongdoing by D\ Supt. Mitchell Caesar and Inspector Nigel Stephens of the GPF as alleged by Bascom. The ministry last week said the RSS report noted that no evidence of corrupt practices or an attempt to cover up Fagundes’ case were discovered.
