The former Head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Motie Dookie, who was entwined in an alcohol smuggling scandal late last year was on Tuesday last sent on “special leave” with pay, following directions from Government.
A Police source confirmed that the directive was made by a Government Minister. Less than two weeks ago, although the investigation was ongoing into the smuggling allegation, Dookie was posted to A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) as one of the five Sub Divisional Officers.
Earlier this year, Dookie was removed from his post as the Commander of the SWAT Unit, pending the outcome of an investigation into alcohol smuggling that he
Former SWAT Head, Motie Dookie
was implicated in.
According to information at the time, on December 31, 2017, Dookie was taken into Police custody at the Whim Police Station and placed under close arrest after 30 cases of illegal whiskey was discovered in a vehicle in which he was travelling.
The discovery was made when officers stopped the minibus on the Whim Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, to conduct a routine search.
Dookie reportedly told the Police that there were only 10 cases of whiskey but a search later unveiled that there were actually 30 cases.
A source at the time told iNews that following interrogation by officials attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Dookie “was not able to provide us with all the necessary documentation but is insisting that there was no wrongdoing on his part. We have questioned the driver of the minibus too. He said the alcohol was to be used at a party.
Dookie was not given permission to leave Georgetown by his commanding officer. At that time, the former SWAT Head had only been at his appointed post for three months following the dismissal of his predecessor, Deputy Superintendent Lonsdale Withrite.
