SOCU charges cops for deleting electronic data linked to fraud case

Two officers of the Guyana Police Force, Special Corporal 14750 Jenneka Carmichael and Constable 25598 Tatayana Smith, were on Wednesday hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer a charge of illegal data interference, brought by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

The duo appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann Mc Lennan, and entered not guilty pleas to the charge, Contrary to Section 5(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2018.  The duo was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the $19M fraud committed on the GPF Finance Department. The two officers were attached as clerks to the Felix Austin Police College.

It is alleged by SOCU that the two women intentionally and without lawful excuse or justification, deleted electronic data from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) computer that was in the Administrative Office of the Felix Austin Police College.

A probe was launched by SOCU after information was received that falsified feeding accounts were stored on the computer but before SOCU could have accessed the computer, all feeding account files were deleted with the two accused being the only ranks that operated the computer.

Both women were granted $150,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to May 6, 2021. They were represented by attorneys-at-Law E. Stephen and Bernard Da Silva.