Investigations into allegations against Crime Chief ongoing

The investigations into the damning allegations of corruption against Deputy Police Commissioner and Crime Chief Lyndon Alves, who is presently on administrative leave, may not lead to a simple “open and shut case”.
Commissioner of Police Leslie James told the media on Thursday that the probe into Alves’ alleged corrupt actions as a senior Police official is “still under investigation”.
“On completion, we will make a disclosure…as you know each matter, each case turns on its own peculiar facts, so I cannot speculate (length of probe)”.
Earlier this month, the Top Cop had promised that ranks found guilty of misconduct will not be condoned within the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
The Commissioner’s statement came when the GPF was celebrating its 180th anniversary and a week after Crime Chief Lyndon Alves was sent on administrative leave to facilitate a probe into corruption allegations levelled against him.
James has acknowledged that there is the pervasive issue of corruption among his ranks.
Among the allegations against Alves is his alleged use of his influence during his tenure as Commander of B Division to protect rogue cops.
Another allegation levelled against the Crime Chief is his reported influence used to prevent his daughter, who was involved in an accident, from being charged. In that incident, the young woman allegedly struck four-year-old Mohan Ramkaran close to his Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home.
However, after she was arrested, she was later placed on $20,000 station bail and over two years later, she is yet to be charged.
Meanwhile, the Top Cop in a statement said, “…the membership of the Guyana Police Force number in excess of seven thousand 7000, most of whom have been professional, law-abiding, conscientious and humble. And for those who chose to run contrary, disciplinary actions have been taken against them”.
Quite recently, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had told this publication that the probe into Alves’ alleged misconduct as a serving senior member of the GPF has been completed and that his file was sent for further advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the way forward.
“Well, we are awaiting certain legal advice. Most of the statements have been completed already. So we are waiting on the legal advice,” the Minister said.
Less than three weeks ago, Alves was sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation into allegations of corruption levelled against him.
Shortly after, Minister Ramjattan had told the media that President David Granger appointed Alves, so the President would determine his fate after investigations are completed.
Given that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is conducting the investigation, meaning the Police is investigating itself, which in itself has raised a number of questions, Ramjattan had also said that it is important for such cases to be investigated by the OPR to build confidence. He added that hundreds of cases have been investigated by the OPR before which have all been respected as they were even subject to further analysis.
Prior to his suspension of duties at the GPF, ranks in Berbice blew the whistle on alleged corruption by the Crime Chief and claimed that he was shielding a few junior rogue ranks who have been linked to criminals.