Cop slapped with three money laundering charges

Rawl Richards Haynes, a Police Corporal of Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo was on Thursday charged with three counts of money laundering and released on $300,000 bail.

He appeared before Magistrate Zamena Ali Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court; he was not required to plead to the indictable charges.

The first charge states that on August 22, 2019, he converted the sum of $2.9 million for payment of one Toyota Allion motor car # PYY 357, knowing or having reason to believe that the said sum of money is the proceed of crime with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the cash.

It is also alleged that on April 7, 2020, he converted the sum $7 million for part payment of properties located at Lot 284 Block 8 Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, knowing or having reason to believe that the said sum of money is the proceed of crime with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the cash.

Finally, it is alleged that on the same day at Lots 285 Block 8 Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo he converted $1 million knowing or having reason to believe that the money is the proceed of crime with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the cash.

According to a press release from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Haynes was represented by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd; he was released on $100,000 bail for the first charge and $200,000 bail, each, for the remaining charges.

The matters were adjourned to January 17 for the offences committed in 2020 and January 25 at the Wales Magistrate’s Court for the offence committed in 2019.

Haynes is among several senior policemen and lawmen who are charged with conspiracy to defraud the Guyana Police Force of over $1.8 million as a result of an audit, which was conducted by the Auditor General and following further investigations done by the police.

According to the Head SOCU, Assistant Commissioner Fizal Karimbaksh, the Police Corporal conducted a number of substantial cash-based transactions. This includes the purchase of the properties mentioned.

Official documents suggested that the properties would be transferred to Haynes upon the completion of court proceedings which are presently pending.

It was also alleged that Haynes purchased two cars between August 2019 and February 2020. SOCU has a restraining order on one of the vehicles.