…CoI says Asst. Comm failed to ensure proper probe while acting as Top Cop

RECOMMENDATIONS have been made for Assistant Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine to be sanctioned for what are considered to be lapses made during the investigation into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.

Ramnarine was at the time of the investigation, acting as Police Commissioner as substantive head of the Force. Seelall Persaud was on annual leave. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established by President Granger to investigate the matter found that Ramnarine who is the second most senior rank in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) failed to ensure a proper investigation was conducted.

Ramnarine did not act as Top Cop throughout the period of investigation, and the Report submitted to President Granger states that during the period he had control should have done more to ensure the investigation was properly conducted. In his testimonies, the Assistant Police Commissioner opined repeatedly that the investigation conducted by ranks of the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was not thorough and proper.

“Even when he acted as Commissioner of Police and had the requisite authority, he did not direct nor ensure that a proper investigation was done. He should be sanctioned for this lapse also,” the report stated. Additionally, Ramnarine though he was provided with a recording of the allegation made by Andrif Gillard, and recorded by Television journalist Travis Chase, he did not review same. The recording which was provided in an electronic format was first sent to Assistant Police Commissioner Sydney James, who then forwarded same to Ramnarine.

Ramnarine without reviewing it, sent same to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum. He told the Paul Slowe-led Commission that he did not review the recording because his office was not equipped with the technology to so do. “The Commission finds that the excuse given by Ramnarine for not viewing the recording to be a very poor one. His failure to view the recording before forwarding it to Blanhum, and on any subsequent occasion is a serious neglect on his part for which he should be sanctioned,” the report stated.
Gillard, a Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident told police that he was offered $7M to kill President Granger sometime in June 2015. The man disclosed that he had asked his friend, Nizam Khan to borrow $6M but instead the man offered him $7 and told him he does not have to repay once he kills the head-of-state. Gillard, along with Khan, was taken to CID to assist the police with investigations. While there, Khan’s brother Imran, who happens to be a close friend of the substantive police commissioner, arrived and behaved disorderly.

As a result of his conduct, he was arrested. Shortly after his firearm and mobile phone were taken from him, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud called and spoke with him. After their conversation, the Top Cop then called Inspector Prem Narine and instructed that his friend be released on his own recognizance along with his brother Nizam and Gillard. The Top Cop at no point spoke with Ramnarine who was acting in his capacity at the time.
Ramnarine told the Commission that he first learned that it was at Commissioner Persaud’s behest that Nizam Khan was sent on bail after hearing remarks at the National Security Council meeting on May 16. He said he was informed prior that it was Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum who ordered the release of the man and though he did not agree with it, did not seek to sanction Blanhum.

In fact, during his testimony when pressed on the matter, the Assistant Police Commissioner said, that at about 20:00h on March 29, he was informed that President Granger requested a brief on the matter the following day. He then contacted Blanhum and the head of Special Branch for updates on the investigation which he had asked Blanhum to handled directly. He said he was told that the investigation did not unearth much.
At about 5:30hrs on March 30, the Crime Chief reported to him the crime situation in the country. It was during that reporting period Ramnarine asked Blanhum the position of Khan who was arrested the day before.  “He said the person would have to return today. I said return? How come? Wasn’t he in custody yesterday afternoon? And he said he was released. I was surprised at that. I asked him on whose instructions and he said his instructions because he does not believe the story by Andriff Gillard,” Ramnarine had told the Commission.

Ramnarine admitted that he found it strange that for such a serious allegation, Khan was released in less than 24 hours. He also told the Commission that he felt misled by Blanhum but noted that he trusted the Crime Chief’s judgment. “I felt very bad about it,” he told the Commission during his testimony.

The acting Top Cop admitted that he had the power to order the re-arrest of Gillard, and the Khan brothers. Based on this, the Commission felt that Ramnarine should have “initiated disciplinary action against Blanhum, and ordered a review of the investigation.” “His failure to do so is a neglect for which he should be sanctioned,” the report stated.