Cops facing larceny, forgery charges released on bail

Two members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), facing charges of larceny by a public officer and forgery, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, and were each placed on bail.
Police Corporal Felicia Lewis and Special Corporal Kelroy Doris, both stationed at the GPF’s Mounted Branch at Eve Leary Georgetown, were not required to plead to the indictable charges. Corporal Doris has been charged with five counts of larceny by a public officer and one count of forgery, while Corporal Lewis has been slapped with three counts of forgery and one count of larceny by a public officer.

Corporal Doris has been placed on bail in the sum of $120,000, while Corporal Lewis has been placed on bail in the sum of $80,000 bail. Their matters have been adjourned to July 14, 2023.
Police have said that, in December 2022, the GPF paid out incentives to several ranks for outstanding performances, including some ranks of the Police Force’s Mounted Branch.
In February 2023, several ranks of the Mounted Branch and Canine Sections reported that they were made to sign musketry and incentive pay sheet for December 2022 by Corporal Lewis and Corporal Doris at the said Mounted Branch Registry. The amount of money they were made to sign for on the pay sheets was hidden from them, and it was later revealed that they were given less money than what was allocated for them.
In instances, some ranks claimed that they did not sign the said pay sheets. As a result, seven ranks did not receive the correct amount that was awarded to them.
The matter was reported to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), and an investigation was launched. The investigation revealed that Corporal Doris and Corporal Lewis had short-paid several ranks of the Mounted Branch and Canine Section.
In some instances, they had forged the signatures of several ranks on the said musketry and incentive pay sheet, and had converted the money to their own use. After the investigations were completed, legal advice was sought and they were both charged with the present offences.