As the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to weed out corrupt and rogue officers from within its ranks, it has been announced that some 14 cops have faced legal consequences for their allegedly ill-intended actions for the year so far.
According to a recent United States (US) report on human rights in Guyana, in 2021, Guyana saw 11 Police officers arrested and charged with multiple counts of fraud, conspiracy, and larceny for inflating the costs of meals procured for Police officers and keeping the difference.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum
During a press conference on Tuesday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum revealed that for the year so far, 14 officers have been charged with criminal offences.
“Here is a breakdown of the various offences: murder – one, corruption – three, conspiracy to obstruct the course of justice – one, obstructing the course of justice – two, assault causing bodily harm – one, simple larceny – one, assault – two, larceny by a public officer – one, and trafficking in narcotics – two. This gives you a total of 14”, he said.
Despite their role as public servants, some of the men and women who swore an oath to keep communities safe have continued to find themselves in these controversial situations over the years.
Just recently, two Police officers in Division Six, Ramesh Chaitram and Marlon Khadoo, appeared before the court to face charges for an alleged corruption transaction. The cops allegedly demanded $400,000 from a civilian to hide a case involving the discovery of an illegal firearm. Shortly after, the regional top cop issued a stern warning to officers about Police corruption. He said that, once found guilty, they will face the full force of the law. (G9)
