Two police ranks attached to the Brickdam Police Station have been charged by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) with demanding money by menace with intent to steal and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The ranks charged are Imman Wilson, a Police Sergeant and Akeimo Simon, a Detective Police Constable, both attached to the Brickdam Police Station.
They appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court #5 before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty to answer their respective charges. They both pleaded not guilty and were granted $75,000 bail each, a police statement said today.
A civil engineer, employed by the Ministry of Public Works, reported to the Head of SOCU Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, that one of his ranks demanded money from him for an ongoing investigation. The Head of SOCU then secured CCTV footage which supported the allegation but did not implicate any officers from SOCU. An investigation was then ordered by Karimbaksh.
During the course of the investigation it was revealed that the two persons posing to be officers from SOCU, whom the Engineer was referring to, were Wilson and Simon.
The police say that further investigations revealed that on the 9th March, 2024 at about 19:00hrs Simon secured the assistance of Wilson’s mobile patrol in a marked Police car and went to the Engineer’s residence at Industry, East Coast Demerara, enquiring about his whereabouts.
The statement said that Simon and Wilson made contact with him and indicated that they were officers from the Special Organised Crime Unit. He further told the engineer that SOCU was conducting a money laundering investigation against him. At the time Simon was carrying what appeared to be a police crime file bearing the official Police Crest and the word SOCU written on the front of the file cover. Simon told the engineer that he was needed at ‘SOCU’ for further investigation.
The statement said that Simon joined the engineer’s vehicle, with the understanding that they were heading to SOCU’s Headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown. On the journey, Simon placed a small gun on his lap and began negotiations. The engineer maintained he did not do anything wrong and wanted to go to SOCU.
However, Simon directed him to drive to Carifesta Avenue and demanded one million dollars from him. Fearful for his life the engineer handed over $100,000 which represented all the cash he had on his person at the time.
Simon exited his vehicle and rejoined the police vehicle which was following them all the way. After a while Simon and Wilson disembarked the Police car and instructed that the Police car to do patrols while they were left behind. Further investigations were carried out and both policemen were charged.
Head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner Karimbaksh, is advising police officers not to impersonate members of SOCU so as to cause discredit to the agency and warned that if they are caught they will be dealt with the full force of the law.