ASP denies threatening junior rank

…as trial winds down before court

A senior rank of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has denied allegations of threatening behaviour and abusive language made against a junior Police rank, as the trial wraps up before the court of Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Frank Thompson on Friday told the court that he was at no point in time informed by investigators of the offence or requested to provide a statement.
Thompson recounted to the court that on the day in question; he was in his vehicle proceeding West along Broad Street, Georgetown where there was a heavy build-up in traffic.
According to the ASP, he was behind a blue motorcar when something on the road diverted his attention, causing his vehicle to graze the blue motor car.
An argument would soon ensue between the drivers of the vehicles – the Assistant Superintendent of Police and Harichand Boodhai – capturing the attention of Policemen on patrol in the area. He said that he was instructed by Constable Leandre Gillis to drive to the Brickdam Police Station hereafter, an instruction which he complied with.
At the Police station, he related his version of the incident while Boodhai also made a report.
Thompson told the court that he did not observe the Complainant (Constable Gillis) during the course of the argument with the driver of the blue motorcar, nor was there any exchange of words with the Complainant.

In fact, the accused claimed that he only saw Constable Gillis in the company of other ranks entering the compound of the Police Station as he was leaving and only met him at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Headquarters, where he was held.
Thompson is also contending that Gillis did not request him to produce any documents but recalled uttering same to officials at the Police station.
Moreover, the ASP disclosed that he was never contacted by the Office of Professional Responsibility in relation to the matter at hand.
While under cross-examination by Police Prosecutor Sergeant Bess, the ASP admitted to imbibing alcohol on the night prior to the incident.
However, eyewitness Constable Ingram had submitted strong testimony, corroborating Gillis’ version of events, in favour of the prosecution. Ingram testified that on the day in question, Thompson had even threatened murder saying “you know who is me? I would kill ya’ll s*@*t right here. I would murder ya’ll and drop you down right here… Call Brickdam, call TSU and ask them about ASP Thompson.”
This matter came to the fore when a video showing Thompson engaging in less than professional behaviour with a fellow rank circulated on social media, attracting much criticism from the public. He was subsequently hauled before the courts. ASP Thompson was also charged for making use of threatening language against Boodhai, who is the owner of the car that was involved in the accident. However, this charge was thrown out after the Complainant refused to testify.
ASP Thompson will appear in court again on October 30 to know his fate.