DPP recommends charge for Permanent Secretary allegedly busted collecting bribe

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that Sharon Hicks – Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry – is charged with the offence of ‘Corrupt Transaction by agent’.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told the News Room that the police are looking to institute the charge against Hicks as soon as possible. The News Room understands that the DPP’s advice was only communicated to the Crime Chief’s office on Wednesday afternoon.

Hicks was arrested on October 8 after police received reports that she was demanding payments from a contractor. This, reportedly, was ongoing for a number of months and the businessman was allegedly threatened that he would not receive contracts if those monies were not paid.

As such, a sting operation was conducted where marked bills were reportedly paid to Hicks by the businessman. Subsequently, an officer informed the Permanent Secretary of the operation and found that the marked bills were in her possession.

Hicks was subsequently released on bail and later sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.