Ranko Gang court proceedings delayed
Published:Friday | July 19, 2024 | 12:11 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
The plea and case management for alleged members of the Clarendon-based Ranko Gang, reportedly led by a police constable, was, on Thursday, rescheduled for July 30 in the Home Circuit Court.
The matter failed to start as the prosecutor, a senior deputy director of public prosecutions who has conduct of the case, was engaged in a trial.
Alleged gang leader Constable Tafari Silvera, Constable Tehneil Francis, David Henry, and Tevin Henriquez were remanded.
At the same time, the lone female, Jasette Brown, had her bail extended, along with Constable Daneilio Barnes, Constable Rajay Morrison, and Ovilgo McKenzie.
Silvera was first arrested in June 2021, following allegations that he had hired two hitmen to murder a police informant from Clarendon.
He was subsequently charged in that matter with two civilians - Christopher Robinson and Mark Bennett. They are all facing charges of conspiracy to murder in a separate case.
The others were arrested last March after they were accused of being part of the 27-member gang.
It was initially reported that eight policemen were involved in the gang and that one fled the island when Silvera was arrested.
However, one of the lawmen was released after two complainants, who had filed reports that he had robbed them, refused to cooperate with prosecutors.
The Ranko Gang, which has been linked to 17 incidents, is alleged to have been involved in shootings, burglaries, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of a firearm, shopbreaking, conspiracy to murder, and abduction.
The offences were allegedly carried out in Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Catherine, St Mary, Trelawny, Kingston, St Andrew, and St James between 2019 and 2021.