…accuses police of corruption
(Kaieteur News) – U.S.-sanctioned businessman Mark Cromwell, also known as “Demon,” has denied any involvement in the disappearance of two Surinamese men, while accusing members of the Guyana Police Force of corruption and attempting to frame him.
Cromwell made the allegations during a Facebook Live broadcast on Thursday, hours after police released several of his relatives, including his wife and brother, on $1 million station bail each following questioning in connection with the disappearance of 28-year-old Van Dalen Lorenzo and 29-year-old Derryl Danillo.
His brother, Jimol Murphy, was later taken before the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court, where he appeared virtually and was charged with alleged abduction.
U.S.-sanctioned businessman Mark Cromwell, also known as “Demon.”
During the broadcast, Cromwell accused the police of targeting him and claimed that some senior ranks had previously visited his home and that of his “late boss” to collect money.
“It get some police officers wa deh in the police force wa more corrupt and crooked and bad mind and envious and jealous,” Cromwell alleged.
He further claimed that one officer, whom he identified as “Zar,” had recently gone to collect $25 million from an unnamed individual but was forced to return the money because the person had to be released.
Cromwell also claimed that he had received advance information that police intended to search his Vigilance, East Coast Demerara residence.
“Before them even come up by me I done get the call that them coming by me because remember how I does live, just how them get friends, I get friends,” he said.
According to Cromwell, his wife agreed to be questioned because she had nothing to do with the disappearance.
He also rejected suggestions that he is involved in drug dealing and other criminal activities, claiming that police routinely associate crimes with him because of his reputation.
“Dem hollering that I is a drugs dealer, I does kill, I is all a duh,” he said, before alleging that police officers previously visited his former boss and collected money.
Cromwell also referenced Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, alleging that police officers had similarly collected money from him. He provided no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
He further accused police of covering up crimes and claimed that officers at Police Headquarters were involved in concealing information about kidnappings.
Questions vehicle link
Cromwell sought to distance himself and his family from the vehicle police reportedly identified as being connected to the missing men.
The vehicle was reportedly registered to his wife.
Questioning why anyone planning a serious crime would use a vehicle linked to themselves or a family member, Cromwell argued that a perpetrator would instead use an unrelated vehicle.
He also claimed that the vehicle was on the East Bank of Demerara on the day police believe the Surinamese men were picked up in Berbice.
Cromwell said police wanted to search his home for video footage, but argued that his experience as a former police officer led him to believe that a criminal would not take an abducted person to his own residence.
“Now if I had video footage by me you ain’t feel it would have done move 10 times aready?” he said.
He further alleged that investigators wanted to enter his residence to plant evidence and frame him and his brother.
“All of a sudden when I burn (unrest at Vigilance) because I don’t want them guh by me because I don’t trust them because them could put thing by me dem wicked,” he claimed.
Cromwell also accused police of attempting to make his brother a scapegoat in the investigation.
While he was making the allegations during the Facebook Live, Murphy was appearing virtually before the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court to answer the abduction charge.
Cromwell maintained that both he and his brother are innocent and said he intends to expose what he described as corruption within the Police Force.
He also alleged that the killing of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing was among cases involving police corruption, but provided no evidence to support that claim.
The allegations made by Cromwell have not been independently verified, and there was no immediate response from the Guyana Police Force to his claims.
Source: Kaieteur News
