Questions over corrupt CANU officer escaping charge
Stabroek News
June 21, 2004
Serious questions remain as to why a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) member, who admitted taking money from the family of a man busted with drugs, has not been charged with corruption.
Stabroek News was informed that the officer had busted the accused at the airport and later accepted an offer of $1M from the family to give false evidence in court.
However, his superiors learnt of the scam after he had collected $700,000. When confronted he made a full admission and handed back the money. He was also dismissed from the unit.
The matter was then handed over to the police for investigation and on completion of the probe they sent the file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. One officer there advised that the man not be charged since he had been made to pay for the offence via his dismissal and because he had returned the money.
Stabroek News confirmed this report with a senior police officer and, according to sources, the file was forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix following the advice. This newspaper attempted to get a comment from the office of the DPP but all efforts proved futile.
Several questions have been raised as to why the man was let off the hook since he was a law enforcement officer and he broke the law by accepting a bribe.
Earlier this year, three CANU officers were charged with corrupt transaction on March 31, accused of obtaining $3M from Salim Azeez as an inducement for showing favour. The three, Errol Fraser, Owen Jones and Patrick Carrington are now before the court.
Persons have pointed out that if the three officers could have been brought before the court then this officer who admitted to his wrong-doing should not get preferential treatment.