Acting Commissioner Calls for Inquests in ORC Killings

FOLLOWING a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Acting Police Commissioner Verne Garde gave an update to the media on the three cases that are yet to be closed. 

These cases, linked to ‘Operation Restore Confidence’ (ORC), a police operation which took place between 2010 and 2011, has been a sore point for years.

Reginald Jean who was shot and killed by police on February 28th 2011 in Marchand. Kevin Ferdinand, Rosarius Marquis, John Baptiste Macfarlane, Mitchell Cadette and Allen Louisy were also killed by police during ORC on May 5th 2011 in Vieux Fort.

Now, new information has come to light.

“The DPP’s office was able to (bring) a number of the (incidents) to closure but there are still a few that are pending. I had (a) discussion with the Director of Public Prosecutions a week and a half ago in that regard. I also met with the lead investigator on two of the matters: the one in Vieux Fort and the one in Marchand,” Acting Commissioner Verne Garde said, adding that “there’s additional evidence we might have accrued.”

“Although these matters had already gone through an inquest, it is my intention to liaise with the Office of the Attorney General to reopen the matter (at) the level of an inquest after I receive the formal file on the 14th,” he said.

Earlier this year, DPP Greene announced that he’d found sufficient evidence to warrant the arrest and formal interviewing of the officers involved in the Vieux Fort shootings on suspicion of reckless manslaughter. He told reporters that he had advised Commissioner Cruscita-Descartes Pelius accordingly and that the investigation was nearing completion.

In the case of Reginald Jean, he said that he had continuously reviewed the evidence. Greene also said that the investigation was nearly complete.

The DPP stated that he had found enough evidence to warrant the arrest and formal interviewing of the officers involved.

But with the Acting Commissioner’s latest announcement, it’s clear that things have changed.

He also provided an update on Chakadan Daniel’s death. The young man was found dead while he was in police custody at the Micoud Police Station on October 23rd 2013. To date, there are still questions surrounding his death.

“I have had some conversations with the investigator and the matter in my opinion also needs to be serviced via an inquest. I will again send it through that process. I want to say though that there are some difficulties with that matter that I have instructed the investigator to manage in the process of the investigation. By the 14th I should have the file at my desk and be in a better position to report on that matter,” he stated.

The Acting Commissioner also touched on another important case. Regarding the senior police officer who was accused of sexual misconduct, Garde said that he has looked into the matter and has had conversations with the investigator.

“Although the matter was thoroughly announced through the media and through other means, I was not in a position to secure a file in that regard. In fact, I have (requested that) the entire investigation file be submitted to my office at the soonest,” he added.