Two Police Ranks Charged for Demanding Money Under False Pretenses

Two Police Ranks Charged for Demanding Money Under False Pretenses

Two Police Ranks Charged for Demanding Money Under False Pretenses

Two police officers affiliated with the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown are facing charges from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for allegedly demanding money under false pretenses and conspiring to commit a felony.

The accused officers are identified as Imman Wilson, a Police Sergeant, and Akeimo Simon, a Detective Police Constable.

In a press release issued by SOCU on Friday, it was stated that both officers appeared before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they pleaded not guilty. They were each granted bail in the amount of $75,000.

According to SOCU, a civil engineer employed by the Ministry of Public Works reported to Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, the Head of SOCU, that one of the officers had demanded money from him under the pretext of an ongoing investigation.

After obtaining CCTV footage supporting the allegation, Assistant Commissioner Karimbaksh initiated an investigation. It was later revealed that the individuals posing as SOCU officers were, in fact, the two policemen from the Brickdam Police Station.

Further investigation unveiled that on March 9, 2024, around 19:00 hrs, Constable Simon, accompanied by Sergeant Wilson in a marked police car, visited the engineer’s residence in Industry, East Coast Demerara. They falsely identified themselves as officers from the Special Organised Crime Unit, claiming to be conducting a Money Laundering investigation.

Simon, brandishing what appeared to be an official police crime file labeled with the SOCU crest, persuaded the engineer to accompany them to “SOCU” for further questioning. Simon then allegedly demanded one million dollars from the engineer during the journey, threatening him with a small firearm.

Fearing for his safety, the engineer handed over one hundred thousand dollars, his entire cash possession at the time. Afterward, Simon and Wilson disembarked from the police vehicle, leaving the engineer behind.

Following further investigation, both officers were charged.

SOCU’s Head advises against police officers impersonating SOCU members to safeguard the agency’s reputation.

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