UPDATE: RVIPF officers enriched themselves, formed connections – UK Prosecutor
The men were all remanded to Her Majesty's Prison at Balsam Ghut after Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo refused their bail application, citing the seriousness of the crime and the possibility of the men fleeing the territory as a result of the charges they now face following an 18-month investigation.
The Magistrate believed that the State had a strong leg to stand on and that the evidence against the accused men was strong. She said the alleged actions of the men have the potential to undermine the justice system and cause loss of confidence in it.
The charges are all indictable and as such there must be a preliminary inquiry or paper committal in order to determine whether a High Court trial will take place.
Sallon summarised that the three men faced a total of 19 charges said to be omitted between January 1, 2012 and April 1, 2014.
The men face nine charges of theft, four charges of acquiring, possessing or use of proceeds of criminal activity, one charge of transfer of proceeds of criminal activity out of the territory, two charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to supply, three charges of attempting to subvert the course of justice.
He said that the accused officers would use intelligence to target and apprehend criminals and then steal money and drugs meant to be turned in for evidence. He alleged they would then either spend the money in the territory or transfer it overseas and used for the men's personal enrichment.
Men allegedly stole $$ & drugs seized in operations
The men are alleged to have stolen, on separate occasions, monies in the amounts of $15,000, $128,000, $30,000, 158 kilos of marijuana, 20 kilos of cocaine, $80,000, $4,000, $2,000, $20,000 and $9,000. The men allegedly stole monies connected to cases involving Arthur James, Glenroy Pierre, Leon King and a number of Puerto Ricans including Ruben Nunez and Esteban Tapia.
Sallon said it is believed that in one instance, as much as 75 percent of a cache of money was stolen. He said in this instance, Police heard statements that a pillowcase was so filled with money that it “stood up like a man.” However, he said that the official declaration of what was found in that raid said to be in Cane Garden Bay was significantly less, said to be in the order of about 25 percent of what was originally believed to be in the 'standing' pillowcase. According to Sallon, it is believed that the pillowcase was stuffed with over $500,000.
Drugs & $$ unaccounted for
Sallon added that some of the money seized from criminals were never accounted for. He said that four suitcase filled with cannabis sativa cannot be accounted for.
The men are also alleged to have tampered with evidence bags in an attempt to cover their tracks after it was alleged that they removed monies from them. He said the men would have made connections with other suppliers and engaged in high level criminal activity.
Interdicted officer to be state witness
The prosecutor disclosed that Prevost allegedly told a co-conspirator Michael Isles that he purchased a Subaru motor car while Power said that he used the proceeds to build the foundation for his home. It is alleged that Power had an unexplained deposit in his bank account for which he lied to the bank manager regarding the source of the funds. Sallon confirmed that while Isles was also interdicted from duty as part of the investigation, he will not face charges but will be a witness for the State.
In his summary of the charges, Sallon debunked the defence team's argument for bail for their clients, citing the possibility that they could abscond given the seriousness of the crimes they are accused of and the related lengthy jail times.
Sallon informed the court that the State will seek to make arrangements to ensure that the three accused policemen are kept separately and safe while in Balsam Ghut.
The parties return to court on May 6, 2016.
See previous article published April 5, 2016
3 alleged corrupt RVIPF officers refused bail
- charged with theft, burglary, use of proceeds of criminal activity & possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, among other charges as Operation Lucan bites
As a result of Operation Lucan, three officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) appeared today April 5, 2016 in the Magistrate's Court charged with a number of offences ranging from theft and burglary to acquiring, possessing and use of proceeds of criminal activity and possession of a controlled substance with regards to activities they were allegedly involved in between 2012 and 2014.
It is alleged that the three policemen, Simon Power of the Virgin Islands, Shawn Henry of Jamaica and Pamphill Prevost of Dominica, stole monies which were seized from persons who were arrested for drug crimes. It is alleged that they also stole from drug caches with an intent to redistribute and put the proceeds to their own use and benefit.
Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo refused to grant bail owing to the seriousness of the offences and the fact that they were police officers. She said that if found guilty by trial their actions have the potential to subvert the course of justice.
The Magistrate rejected arguments from the defense attorneys, namely Richard G. Rowe and Patrick Thompson, saying that the allegations were serious enough to warrant withholding bail from the men.
The defense attorneys argued that the allegations carry jail sentences which are similar to offenses considered less serious and as such they argued for bail for their clients.
The men have been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut and will return to court on May 6, 2016.
Operation Lucan was launched in 2014 with a view to investigating high profile corruption in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
Early into the investigations, five RVIPF officers were interdicted from duty, however, one of them was reinstated to full police duties.
67 Responses to “UPDATE: RVIPF officers enriched themselves, formed connections – UK Prosecutor”
Come tell me is the same darn thing it is not new
Three who were just remanded, plus the one reinstated to duty equals four.
What happened to number five?
I hungry af i want in on this big eat
Oh my the same officers want to be up in your face and them into the same sh.t .tell me how will they get respect from others when they them self can't respect their self .very low of these guys