Shooting outside extradition witness’ home: Cop allegedly admits to accepting $800,000 bribe from US-sanctioned LOO for video footage

…illegally downloaded surveillance video from Police command centre – Police

A 20-year-old Police Constable has been arrested after allegedly admitting that he downloaded surveillance footage linked to the shooting incident outside the residence of Senior Superintendent Prem Narine and handed it over to United States (US) sanctioned Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed in exchange for $800,000.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters arrested the constable on Monday after acting on intelligence received.
According to the police, the constable, who is stationed at the Force’s Command Centre, allegedly told detectives that while on duty on October 23, he discreetly downloaded the surveillance footage and saved it to a flash drive on the instructions of Mohamed.
The constable further alleged that on Saturday Mohamed dispatched an employee to transport him to his residence at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD), where the US-indicted man offered him $800,000 in exchange for the recording. Police said Mohamed allegedly paid the constable the money in cash and collected the flash drive. The constable reportedly told investigators that he spent part of the money during a shopping trip and handed the remainder to his mother.

Shooting incident
The footage is linked to the October 12 shooting incident outside Narine’s residence on Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown. Narine, a senior police officer, is a witness in the extradition proceedings involving Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, who are wanted in the US.
On October 17, Mohamed, his driver Eugene Thorne, 35, and videographer Mario Mohamed, 21, were each granted $750,000 bail after appearing before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
The obstruction charge alleges that the three men willfully attempted to obstruct the administration of justice by discharging a firearm at or near Narine’s home on October 12. They have pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
During the bail hearing, the prosecution raised concerns about possible interference with Narine, who is a witness in the extradition proceedings. The defence challenged aspects of the police investigation, including the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the firearm.
In granting bail, the Magistrate-imposed conditions prohibiting the accused from contacting, threatening, intimidating or attempting to influence prosecution witnesses. They were also ordered to stay away from Narine’s residence and refrain from contacting him or his immediate family. The three men are expected to return to court on November 6.
The extradition proceedings against Azruddin Mohamed and his father are separate from the criminal charges arising from the shooting incident. The US is seeking their extradition to answer allegations including wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold-export and tax-evasion scheme. The indictment also alleged that Azruddin Mohamed participated in a separate scheme involving the importation of a Lamborghini from Miami to Guyana, in which the vehicle’s declared value was allegedly understated to evade more than US$1 million in taxes.
Both men have been granted $150,000 bail each pending the outcome of the extradition proceedings, subject to conditions including surrendering their passports and reporting to the Ruimveldt Police Station as directed by the court.