Case crumbles against accused gangster cop

One of four police officers who were on Friday busted in an operation targeting the Clarendon-based Ranko Gang was released following the refusal of two witnesses to take part in an identification (ID) parade exercise.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anthony McLaughlin, who heads the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Division, told The Gleaner on Monday that the two witnesses had given a statement implicating the cop in robberies but have refused to cooperate any further.

“One is overseas and he is showing no further interest. In fact, he says he is not returning to point him out, while the other one in Jamaica is reluctant to point him out as well. In fact, he says he is not going to point him out,” the assistant commissioner shared.

Noting that the police cannot hold the implicated lawmen indefinitely, the assistant commissioner said a positive identification would have been crucial in tying the suspect to the gang.

However, he said: “The case is still open, so once the potential witnesses change their mind and are willing to cooperate with the police, then the matter will continue.”

In the meantime, McLaughlin also reported that another policeman implicated in the gang and who was asked to turn himself in by Monday did so on Monday in the company of his lawyer.

A male civilian, who was among the group of persons asked to surrender to the police, also complied, while a woman listed made contact with the police through her attorney.

In a shocking revelation from the police on Friday, it was disclosed that eight policemen had been identified as alleged members of the gang, purportedly headed by a constable, Tafari Silvera, who was arrested last June. Silvera remains in custody.

It was also reported that one of the implicated cops had fled the island and is being sought along with other members locally.

Silvera and two civilians, Christopher Robinson and Mark Bennett, who are all currently before the Home Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to murder, were arrested in relation to a plan to kill an alleged member of the gang, accused of being a police informer.

A member of the gang was shot and killed and two illegal guns were seized during a police operation that foiled the alleged plot.

The Ranko Gang, which has been fingered in 17 incidents, is alleged to have carried out shootings, burglary, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of a firearm, shop-breaking, conspiracy to murder and abductions in Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Catherine, St Mary, Trelawny, Kingston, St Andrew, and St James between 2019 and 2021.

Police involvement was identified in a string of gang-related robberies in 2019.