Three Police Officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) returned to the High Court in Road Town, Tortola on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Photo: VINO/File

The trial is set for about six weeks and continues on Monday, January 28, 2019, under heavy police security in Road Town. Photo: VINO/File

The Officers are accused by the crown of corruption for stealing cash from alleged drug dealers they arrested and searched.

The three police officers—who now have lost their jobs—are Pamphill Prevost, Simon Power and Shawn Henry. They were all assigned to a special police unit called ‘Proactive Team’ and the allegation against them happened sometime between 2012-2014.

Taking of cash by officers

The Lead Prosecutor for the crown is John Black QC.  In court on Tuesday, he told the Judge and Jury that law enforcement was there to “serve and protect the community” however, the three officers were there to “enrich themselves.”

The QC told the court that the men, on five different occasions conspired to steal money from “criminals.”

The first he said took place on January 24, 2012, when two of the same officers held a man in Soper’s Hole on the western end of Tortola where after a search of the man’s boat, they found a bag with a large amount of cash.

The cash was seized but some of the money from the bag went missing. The Crown Attorney said only Henry and Prevost were in possession of the money before it was taken to the police station.

Where is the cash?

In another operation, the Court heard that the dirty cops had again, this time on December 20, 2012, searched a man in Cane Garden Bay where they found a pillowcase filled with cash.

Mr Black told the court that Prevost was seen walking out of the Cane Garden Bay man's home with the pillowcase, which was “never in an evidence bag.”

A replica of a pillowcase full of cash would have been around $270,000 the court was told, however, the cops only turn in $133,000.

One working with Police

It is our newsroom understanding that another officer was involved—where it would have been four on trial—however, he has since turned state witness.

Prevost’s lawyer is Patrick Thompson, while Henry has retained Ian Wilkinson QC while Mr Power is using the services of Attorney, Israel Bruce.

The trial is set for about six weeks and continues on Monday, January 28, 2019, under heavy police security in Road Town.