Former Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James is under investigation by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) over millions of dollars that went missing during his tenure. Also missing are quantities of gold that were confiscated via several money laundering cases and kept in SOCU’s safe. Investigators are also focusing on several doctored invoices, with some even bearing forged signatures.
Guyana Standard was informed by extremely reliable sources that the case was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack for advice some weeks ago. When contacted yesterday about the status of the file, Acting Crime Chief, Michael Kingston said that it was returned by the DPP with recommendations for further investigations. He declined to comment further on the details of the allegations against James.
Following his subsequent suspension in mid-July, he was replaced by Superintendent of Police, Althea Padmore.
The ongoing investigation into James was sparked by an audit that was conducted by the Audit Department of the Guyana Police Force earlier this year. The audit had unearthed damning instances of mismanagement of funds which were set aside for informants, along with other financial improprieties.
