3 cops to be charged for irregularities unearthed

Driver’s licence exam

Following the discovery of massive irregularities in the theoretical examination written for a driver’s licence on April 12 last, the Police have revealed that, based on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), three subordinate officers and one civilian are shortly expected to be arraigned in court.
This newspaper understands that a Police Sergeant will be charged with 12 counts of conspiring with others to commit a misdemeanour; a female Corporal will be charged with 18 counts of conspiring with others to commit a misdemeanour, and another Corporal face 12 counts of the said offence.
A civilian will, moreover, be charged with two counts of obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the Police, the charges were laid under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.
Earlier this month, the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which had been probing the irregularities unearthed following the examination, concluded its investigations and handed the case over to the DPP.
This newspaper was told that candidates who had written this examination on the said date have been receiving result slips from the Traffic and Transport Office of the GPF at Eve Leary, Georgetown, informing them of their performance.
On April 18, major irregularities surfaced in regard to the driver’s licence theoretical examination. Some 174 persons were registered to write the examination, but 106 persons presented themselves to write it; yet 207 scripts were submitted at the conclusion of the examination, 155 of which had been completed.
According to the GPF, preliminary inquiries revealed a complete breach of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing the administration and conduct of the examination.
The Police have also stated that initial inquires revealed that a senior subordinate officer who had been mandated to oversee this theoretical examination – which had been invigilated by three junior GPF ranks in collaboration with two pastors from the Cops and Faith Community Network partnership with the Guyana Police Force — had left the venue shortly after the examination had commenced, and did not return.
Further, it was reported that a junior subordinate officer who ought not to have been at the examination venue had presented himself there, had spent some time, and subsequently left.
The GPF has said that since members of the Cops and Faith Community Network became involved in the invigilation of the learner driver’s theoretical examination, there have been reports of a significant reduction in the opportunities for corruption, complaint and allegations; thus this voluntary involvement will continue.
Just a few weeks ago, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) also discovered some illegal activities in relation to forged drivers’ licences and other irregularities.
The GRA said it discovered that some unscrupulous members of its staff were working in collusion with outsiders and members of the public to issue forged drivers’ licences, certificates of compliance, and registrations.
While announcing that details surrounding this development would not yet be divulged, the GRA has announced that an investigation has been launched, and is ongoing.
The GRA has also revealed that those individuals who were part of the illegal operations have been sent on leave.