The Director of Public Prosecutions has cleared former Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher of any criminal wrongdoing.
It comes following an investigation which lasted several months, into the issuance of a firearm import permit.
It was a case that drew national attention – the country’s top cop under investigation for allegedly misusing her authority to approve the importation of two high-powered rifles and accessories, including sound suppressors.
The permit was granted to a licensed firearm dealer, but the Strategic Services Agency, a state body, was the intended end-user “purportedly for operational and training use.”
The question investigators had to answer – Did Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher act improperly, or even illegally in granting that permit?
Well according to a media release on Saturday evening from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, the evidence was not enough to lead to criminal misconduct.
The press release stated that the DPP was presented with a ‘substantial file’ containing evidence, which raised concern of the Commissioner of Police’s performance of her due diligence functions.
It also stated that while this coupled with her granting of the Firearm Import Permit was sufficient to lead to her arrest as a suspect, the evidence presented does not reach the “required threshold” so as to lead to a criminal charge.
The DPP added that “a mistake, even a serious one, will not suffice”, noting that the “threshold is a high one requiring conduct so far below acceptable standards to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust.”
Mr. Gaspard acknowledged that the Commissioner’s actions raised “serious questions” about due diligence, but emphasized there was no evidence of corruption or improper motive, adding that he’s of the view that there is no realistic prospect of a conviction for the offence of Misbehaviour in Public Office or for any offence.
Meanwhile the current Acting Commissioner of Police, Junior Benjamin welcomed the decision, calling it “ a clear and unequivocal decision” by the DPP.
He stated that the DPP applied the Full Code Test, which evaluates the evidential and public interest stages, and concluded there was no realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.
Further, he said no improper motives or unlawful considerations were found in the Commissioner’s actions, and confirmed that the matter will not proceed further.