Cop nabbed in blackmail racket

Sep 20, 2008 News

– beaten unconscious while attempting to collect money from

victim’s wife

A police constable from the New Amsterdam station was caught red-handed yesterday in an extortion racket involving a US citizen residing in Rose Hall, Canje.

The rank was beaten unconscious with a cricket bat when he allegedly held the businessman’s wife at gunpoint to force her to hand over $650,000.

So severe was the beating that the constable had to be hospitalized before being detained at the New Amsterdam Police Station.

Police officials told Kaieteur News that they are attempting to track down two of the policeman’s accomplices.

This newspaper understands that the racket was hatched last week Saturday, when a man, who identified himself as ‘Tommy’ from Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, turned up at the business premises of the US citizen. The businessman is the owner of Nadia Shopping Plaza, located at Rose Hall, Canje.

According to sources, ‘Tommy’ claimed that he was a cambio dealer and offered to sell the businessman a quantity of US currency.

The US citizen agreed to the deal, and ‘Tommy’ returned the following day, accompanied by a man whom he introduced as ‘George.’

‘Tommy’ alleged that ‘George’ had worked in Suriname as a bartender and wanted a job at the businessman’s establishment, where there was a vacancy.

On Wednesday last, ‘Tommy’ and ‘George’ returned on a bicycle. After the businessman had shown them around the premises, ‘Tommy’ informed the businessman that he had US$2,500 to sell.

However, Kaieteur News understands, when the businessman saw the cash, he immediately realized that the money was counterfeit and handed the cash back. After an argument, the two tricksters left.

It is alleged that on Thursday, ‘Tommy’ called and informed the businessman that he had planted some of the counterfeit money on the businessman’s premises. He also threatened to bring ‘the inspector’ to arrest the businessman.

According to reports, the businessman then checked his premises and found a counterfeit Guyanese $100 bill.

‘Tommy’, it is alleged, contacted the businessman again and informed the man that he would be implicated in a counterfeit racket unless he handed over $650,000. He also threatened to kill the businessman’s wife and children.

The businessman agreed, but then contacted police ranks from the New Amsterdam Police Station, who arranged a stakeout.

Kaieteur News was told that at first ‘Tommy’ insisted that the businessman bring the money. Eventually, he agreed to send someone for the cash.

At around 16:45 hrs yesterday, the businessman received a call from a police rank, who informed him that he was coming to collect the cash for ‘Tommy’ and ‘George’. He promised to arrive in ten minutes.

When the police rank arrived, he allegedly drew a firearm and pointed it at the businessman’s wife, while asking for her husband’s whereabouts.

However, an employee of the businessman struck the policeman in the head with a bat, knocking him unconscious.

The policeman was then taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was treated before being placed in custody.

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