Police officer freed in $6M bribe charge

One of the four police officers who was charged for allegedly accepting bribe to allow drug smugglers to go free after an interception was made on the Corentyne in September 2015, has been set free.

Assistant Superintendent Terrence Browne, 48, was the officer-in-charge of the Whim Police Station, where the bus was allegedly detained on September 10, 2015 until the $6 million bribe was paid.

It was alleged that Browne along with others, between September 10 and 11, 2015, at Salton Village, Corentyne, Berbice, obtained a sum of cash from the other police officers, as an inducement to forego charges against Rennison Park.

Corporal Shawn McPhoy, of 174 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt; Constable Ray Drepaul Saul, of Eversham, Corentyne, and Constable Trevon McKenzie, of Princeton, Corentyne, were charged jointly while Browne was charged separately.

It was also alleged that the three along with a female officer collected a $6 million bribe and relinquished some of the cash to Browne. The female, Constable Stacy Welch had testified during Brown’s trial that she received a share of the money when it was parted. She further stated that McPhoy placed a portion of the money into a plastic bag and said it was for the boss.

Attorney Chandra Sohan who represented Browne, questioned Welch to determine her interpretation of ‘the boss’, while noting that it could have been the Commander or the Commissioner.

He told the court that the prosecution failed to establish that McPhoy said he was taking the money to Browne.

Welch, who was the prosecution’s key witness, told conflicting stories, Sohan argued. During her evidence, Welch had stated that she was outside of the Police Station and saw when Browne collected the money. She also told the court that she was in enquiries and never left the station.

Sohan pointed out that another witness places Welch in a car and said she remained there all of the time.

Magistrate Charlyne Artiga presiding over the Whim Magistrate’s court, on Monday said that the prosecution had failed to convince the court that the Assistant Superintendent was the person who received the plastic bag and that anyone saw him.

In September, Browne had maintained that he knew nothing of the alleged transaction while those charged along with Welch returned money, allegedly their share from the $6 million bribe.

McPhoy, Saul, and McKenzie will have to return to court next Monday when the trial continues.