Latest update November 8th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
Trial of senior cop accused of assaulting subordinate to begin
-despite case file being incomplete after three months
Magistrate Dylon Bess will today fix a date for the commencement of trial of Assistant Superintendent
CHARGED: ASP Frank Thompson
of Police (ASP) Frank Thompson, who is accused of verbally assaulting Police Constable Leander Gillis, and threatening to kill Hemchand Budhai, a civilian.
It is alleged that on February 22 at Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, ASP Thompson used abusive language towards Police Constable Leandre Gillis.
It was further alleged that on the same day, he used threatening language towards Hemchand Budhai.
The senior police rank of 154 Back Street, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, was released on a total of $120,000 bail – $60,000 bail on each of the two charges – after pleading not guilty.
ASP Thompson, who was charged since in March, had initially appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, who instructed that the matter would go to trial despite a statement being missing from the police rank who made the allegation against Thompson. Magistrate Latchman ordered the prosecutor to rely on the statements that have already been filed in the matter and to exclude the statement of the rank that put the allegation to the police officer.
According to reports, on the day in question, Constable Gillis was on patrol duties at Broad Street, Charlestown, when he was stopped by Hemchand Budhai, who reported to him that ASP Thompson’s vehicle had crashed into his vehicle which at the time had occupants.
Constable Gillis then accompanied Budhai to the scene.
It is alleged that ASP Thompson upon seeing Budhai approaching him and started to use a series of indecent expressions towards him and threatened to kill him and the other occupants in the vehicle. The court further heard that after Constable Gillis told Thompson of the allegation made by Budhai, Thompson then asked the junior rank, “what the (expletive) you gon’ do about it?”
According to reports, when being questioned by the junior rank with regard to the accident in which he was involved, the senior rank, who appeared to be intoxicated, apparently became abusive toward Budhai and the Police Constable.
The ASP, who was subsequently requested by the junior rank to drive to the nearest police station, turned to the junior rank, who found himself at the end of the ASP’s verbal onslaught. “You know me? Eh? Find out ‘bout me. If me had it me way, you won’t be a (expletive) recruit…Find out ‘bout me. Call ‘A’ Division. I would murder you (expletive) on the ground hey,” he allegedly exclaimed.
In a video of the episode that was circulated on social media, the junior rank was heard pleading with the senior rank to desist from such actions; he however continued.
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