Failure to properly investigate plot to kill President was intentional- COI Report

By Leroy Smith

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) headed by former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe has found that the failure of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to properly investigate the alleged plot to assassinate the Head of State, was deliberate.

The CoI report was presented to the National Assembly today (Thursday, November 02, 2017).

The report found that among the reasons the police failed to properly investigate the plot was due to the close relationship which Nizam Khan and Imran Khan have with the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, and several other senior and junior officers of the force.

This was identified under the Terms of References of the report which directed the COI to; “Review all actions taken by the Guyana Police Force and examine whether there was evidence, failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate the intentions or plan to assassinate the president and determine whether such failure or omission was intentional.”

The report also pointed out that the Police Commissioner inappropriately inserted himself in the investigation at an early stage.

Further, the fact that Andriff Gillard, the accuser, was known to have several run-ins with the police and the fact that the Crime Chief and others concluded at a very early stage that there was no truth to the allegation, was also highlighted.

Another factor given for the failure to properly investigate the plot was the fact that the allegation was made almost 21 months after the alleged offer was made.

The alleged plot to assassinate the President was confirmed on April 20, 2017.

One month later, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan disclosed that the CoI was launched after some snags were encountered during the investigation. He said the Government did not like what was playing out, referring to the time taken for witnesses to turn up.