No malice against Top Cop, Crime Chief – Ramnarine

Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger that his opinion that the investigations were not properly conducted was not based on malice against Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud or Crime Chief Wendell Blanum.

Recalled by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to be cross-examined by Persaud’s attorney Glen Hanoman on Friday. Ramnarine, in his evidence in chief, told the Commission he is of the opinion that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force did not properly investigate the allegations made by Andrif Gillard — to the effect that businessman Nizam Khan had offered him $7M to kill President David Granger.

Ramnarine said he was discharging the duties of the Commissioner of Police when the matter was first reported, and he had instructed Crime Chief Wendell Blanum to personally supervise the investigation.

During cross-examination, Ramnarine admitted that his opinion was not based on qualification, experience, or any special training as a detective, since he was never an investigator. However, he noted that special detective training and techniques were not required to formulate his opinion, and shot down claims that he had concocted the view that the investigation was compromised when he took to the witness stand.

Ramnarine said he was concerned that the probe into the assassination plot was not being conducted properly, but did not share that view with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who was overseas at the time; nor did he share the view with Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, who was acting in the Public Security Minister’s capacity.

He added that he had also seen no need to advise the National Security Council of his opinion, since they already had information to suggest that the integrity of the investigation was compromised.

“I didn’t have to tell them. They already knew. Discussions which unfolded there made me realize that they knew well in advance…about calls being made and other things and so on,” he said.

He said that based on his training, knowledge and experience, and the gravity of the alleged assassination plot, he would have kept Gaillard and Nizam in custody, instead of releasing them on bail the same day.

During his evidence-in-chief, Ramnarine also said that on the morning of March 30, while receiving the daily crime briefing, the Crime Chief did not provide any information on the investigation. He related that he had to ask for an update, and was told that Blanum had released the men.

“I felt very bad about (being misled by the Crime Chief, but) I did not (take any action) at the point in time. I trusted the judgment of the Crime Chief, and I later learnt that the decision to release allegedly was influenced by a phone call,” Ramnarine said.

Attorney Hanoman questioned Ramnarine further on this revelation: “Wasn’t it widely circulated in the press that both the Commissioner of Police and the Crime Chief were alleging that you (had) interfered in another investigation for your friend? It was widely reported in the press about the Rio (Night Club) shooting,” Hanoman said.

“Something was reported in the press? I do not recall reading in the press that it was I who obstructed the investigation,” Ramnarine responded.

“Your name may not have been mentioned, but you know it was you. Isn’t that so?” Hanoman continued.

“It wasn’t me,” Ramnarine retorted.

The grilling continued by Hanoman, and Ramnarine admitted that the Office of Professional Responsibility had investigated how he had granted some 113 firearm licences while he had previously acted as Police Commissioner.

Ramnarine explained that 70 of those licences were granted to security services; as replacements; to Police officers, and to other persons by an authority senior to him, who was afforded the power to so do by the Firearms Act.

Ramnarine explained that then ‘A’ Division Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, had opined that he had issued those licences in breach of the law.

Ramnarine said Persaud had sent the matter for investigation to the Office of Professional Responsibility, and while Persaud did not oppose a probe of the Office of Police Commissioner, he did not provide access to the firearms section to verify the process.

Asked by Hanoman if he felt bad about Persaud and Blanum’s actions, Ramnarine said, “Obviously! From a professional standpoint, it surprised me that here was my Commissioner launching an investigation into some purported breach involving me, but at the same time denying the investigator access to the records.”

As his cross-examination continued, Ramnarine said he would like to be appointed Commissioner of Police, but he does not have to suck up to the political authority to have that done.

Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Prem Narine was also recalled to be cross-examined by Hanoman. He maintains that while Persaud did not use the words ‘I instruct’, what he had said amounted to the instruction that led him to granting the Khan brothers bail.

The CoI continues on Wednesday, when Gillard’s former landlady, Louanna Walker, will take the stand.