Saying it is a serious indictment on the police force, Superintendent Cuffy Williams has said he will thoroughly investigate an alleged leak of documents relating to a high-profile court and police matter involving a minor.
“I received the orders from the Commissioner of Police to carry out an investigation into the breach that has been committed in the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), I suppose,” Cuffy told state-owned DBS Radio.
The documents relate to a case of alleged inappropriate behavior of two high-profile men and an underage child. The documents have spread through social media like wildfire and concerns were raised that the leak could seriously compromise and prejudice the case.
Cuffy stated that he will first look at the area where the alleged breach took place.
“I will be interviewing various persons pertaining to that breach and then I will come to my conclusion and forward the results to the Chief of Police,” he remarked.
He stated at that in all his years of service, he has never seen a thing of this nature.
“It is a serious indictment on the force,” he noted. “In my 38 years of service, this is the first time that such thing has happened, and yes I support the Chief’s statement that it is an indictment on the police force…”
Cuffy stated that investigating the matter is not a “good day” for him.
“But I can assure you and I can assure the public that I will carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged breach,” he said.
In my opinion this should never hapen, however, in high profile cases their is always a motive behind such action. This is where the preservation and collection of evidence become an issue. That’s always my major concern when comes to the Dominica criminal justice system. That’s the reason why the Government always loose their most important cases. However, blame should not be going around the time has come to find a better way of the securing if evidence regardless of the issue at hand. If it was my investigation the first place to start is the department log book. That the first step. From there I began my investigation. That is if there is a log book. During my study, in my criminal justice class I learned that investigation began at the root of the problem
Why are they diverting from the case to something less important? For christ same stay focused on the case!
true.they like man transport too
So what leak(s)? It may not have come from within but on the outside. Those involved have relatives and friends. You know News also travel like wildfire. Do you know they could have informed others and this is how the leak came about? There is no malicious intention. Were they sworn to secrecy? There is no Law against that.
In those days there was no computer, internet and cellular. This is the problem today. Nothing is secret.
Can a secret and one as that be really kept in Dominica? People are curious.
This makes no sense!! Who said is CID leak was made. Oh please. In these matters disclosure must be made to each lawyer. How do we know it wasn’t kraked out of a lawyers office. Money talks. So many little junior lawyers in these offices. we must use out heads. We all just try to crucify police for any and everything. These are still the police we need!!
Ashamed! By our own admission, our force is at it lowest Ebb, and it calls for serious intervention by an independant investigation and by extention a commission of inquire into the affiars of our police force. If we are to be taken seriously, we cannot investigate ourselves and expect the public`s confidence in our Force, we cannot allow the fox to guard the coop, it gives rise to more cocomarkart in the same area it allegedly took place. We have to seriously call a spade a spade, our police force is being Micro managed and that is costing us the very respect we seek. Lets be serious, and deal with the real problems in our own house before we can ask others to get their house in order. Come on this is # 2016 Comrades.
That police force has no secret.
Not a difficult case to investigate.Start with the people assigned to the case.Who was in physical contact wih the case file,where was it stored and who had access etc.Also consider giving polygraph test if available.Also look at people applying for vacation in said department.Look at close associates.Its not a big police force.That also shows a lack of supervision and incompetence in such high profile cases.Also look at the person in charge of the case.
Just ask those guys on Q. But of course they will not divulge. They were boasting for a week . And remember too they form part of the opposition eh!
I’m a Dominican living here in Tortola and I have the video a next Dominican send to me this is not good at all
No Justice, no peace
Mark my word, very soon some former CID officers and/ or current ones will leave the state on “vacation leave” or “medical leave” and never return. Conveniently, we will be told soon after that the person is no longer part of the force and cannot be disciplined under the Police Act since they have left the force. Or, they will attempt to have the person forcibly returned to Dominica to be interviewed but that will never happen.
All part of the grander scheme so I am saying it now to circumvent the plan before they even try that nonsense. As the police themselves would say; “we will put cutlass in that!”.
Always Assertive!
Powerful statement Mr Williams and a step in the right direction; the jury is out on this one and the term \”actions speak louder than words\” is where i have a little concern. A reminder of the Oath of office which every police officer has taken since the establishment of a Police Force in Dominica should be pursued. The sooner you get to the bottom of this despicable act the better it will be for the fledgling image and the restoration of good police /public relations.
bring a forensic team from outside…
Look Bowdelle. Is alot of things that go on in Dominica that is magical, unbelievable, amazing and out of this world. It starts from the top and trickles down to every sector of the society. That country on a side and is so they love it.
If we were to start to turn stones upside down in Dominica everybody would be surprised at what we would uncover. Some would even say – this is impossible. But mark my words, this day is coming and it is coming soon!
I do not see/hear anything like that as you stated. They are occurrences and nationals should not be shocked. As long as there are people, there will be such. They give people as you something to talk and comment about. Otherwise it would be dull for you.
There are times the News could be dull, depending on what has occurred and is occurring.
I read News and comments and respond accordingly. No big deal.
Soon it will become stale news and nationals will forget about it, especially those who have a short memory.
Whilst I do not like many of the comments here, and my understanding that one person can post many commenst under different names, it comes to me as no surprise that the public seemingly has a “beef” supporting the police or divulging certain information to the police. The police must wake up and sift the “grain” form the “wheat”.
With all your good intentions Sir, your efforts will come to nothingness in the absence of forensic investigate into the original source of publication via social media. If we are serious, government should spare no effort in getting the assistance of Google to determine that specific information. thereafter, it can be traced to the police CID. What is required is the evidence concerning the first computer to dispatch the same into cyberspace. The kind of investigation has happened before and it can happen again. People must understand that there mischievous activities via social media can be traced. Every computer has a specific ID. Outside of that tool I do not see any thing coming put of the investigation. Even when I believe the Super mean well.
The public has lost so much trust and confidence in the police that I am not sure that this investigation will go anywhere, especially if it begins leading to people who are close to the government. So many investigations before have gone that way. what will be different about this one. I keep on saying that we live in a Failed State. I am waiting for the police to prove me wrong.
Investigations a la the criminal offences:
GON Emmanuel and his wife firebombing?
The Police Officer, who investigates money-laundering, also firebombed?
The arson, fire at Melville Hall that destroyed the airport’s communication equipment?
Bin Bobol?
Corruption, sexual molestation of children, bribery
Where were the keys to the Registry building kept for safety? At the Police HQ. How did those keys disappear? Imagine at the Police HQ, those important keys to the Registry stolen?
Soon after, the Registry was burglarised, documents stolen. Up to now nothing has happened. Investigations going on or closed? who took those keys? who broke into the Registry and took away documents? what kind of documents? Those of high profile cases?
What about investigations into those crimes, real criminal acts? what about other illegal acts committed, especially by those in “High places”?
When an oppressed , abused, marginalised people stand up, injustice trembles.
We await the conclusion of the investigation and trust that it will be independent(free of influences), thorough and expeditious.
Well, it was not long ago the house of Mr. Linton was torn upside down as police investigated to see who put the PM classified doc out. Needless to say when they found out it was ….., skerro said, oh I forgot I gave him permission and that was it. Then I also remember the GON EMANUEL saga of 2010, and the investigation of the police. In fact they even sent somethings to Barbados to be tested to see if it would help them identify the culprit. Since they never revealed the result, I take it to mean the plane crashed somewhere and the items got lost. I have more examples but I will stop here for now because I
Know DNO might not post
They are humans like everyone else who make grave and embarrassing mistakes.however the person who leaked the information should be caustioned and not dragged into the public but dealt with professionally, internally. Mr Cuffy do not drag the police officer and his mistake or mess in the public.. Please use a level of descretion. You never know there might just be some things the officers might bring out firther in the public in certain areas on certain issues. Could it be that the police did that to spite the commissioner. I think the officers must put their political differences aside and work as officers. Stop giving the public reason to know what party you support. .Do not accept bribes for things that could put you in problems. Do not let matters get you so angry that you just start depalaying and leaking out stuff, Do not even discuss certain things with yiour girlfriend , boyfriend or husband or wives. Their level of trust is different from yours in force.
So de police going to investigate itself?
If some head/heads doesn’t roll because of this open visible lack of credibility and breach of trust by de criminal investigation division then it would be fair to assume that Dominica is a lawless country.
It would also suggest that a young allegedly abused girl will NEVER get justice.
Any similar case going before the court involving alleged high profile businessmen and career politicians will never be fair.
Justice delayed for our future generations will erase any political gains of the current administration especially its leadership……….de courts and the religious community and its leaders will have to bow their heads in shame.
If the culprit/culprits get away with no punishment………what have we gained.
What will we have left to be proud about?
I am not going to hold my breath, I will die a hard death if I do. Remember the fire at the landfill? Remember the boat bowdel that caught fire in the police compound? I can go on and on.
First Cuffy WIlliams has already narrowed his conclusion to the CID. No investigator starts with a closed mind (Well Cuffy is no investigator). What about politicians like Ministers of Government who were given copies of the statements that may have leaked it? Some have suggested the leak is a Defense Attorney, forgetting that no charges have been read much less for disclosure before these statements started to circulate. It’s almost 3 weeks since these statements have been in the public domain and the Commissioner only now appoints an investigator, and the least competent one at that.
On another note, there was an amendment to the criminal procedure act that allows for video recording of accused persons. Can you imagine in a case of this magnitude, no video recording was done? The sorry excuse was that the law did not include that as an offence to record. The law lists some offences that MUST be recorded, that means others can. Anything to assist the club boys. Let’s…
Ebeh look joke and comess. Best they ask me to do that investigation. The way I see it there are two leads – corrupt police or defense lawyers .
I hope an investigation is conducted into the alleged attempt by a female police officer to destroy video evidence
Why two leaks? It could be collusion between the two! Who will benefit it the judge rules that a fair trial is not possible because of these leaks? And who is more likely to be discredited or subject to pressure. The accused or the claimant?
easy way to find who leaked the document to facebook, contact facebook and request the account the file was first shared on facebooks servers…
Well look is now it going to have masses in DE cemetery
Thank you for taking a stand. It is time that we have a system that we can trust. I trust you will find the culprit and prosecute to the full extent.
On the other hand people need to be more vigilant about circulating such matters and we can all begin by not forwarding the message we receive it.
That is something else. Information being leaked from a police force? When that type organisation represents safety and security?
On the other hand in all organisations, there are bad eggs which overshadows the good.
BIG SHAME on our Dominica ….. police officers,they arrest criminals that are doing crimes but when police officers are doing crimes they are bigger criminals than the civilians that commit crimes,,they should know who worked on that day,time and who handled this file,the offender should be named ,fined and imprisoned to let the public see that the police is not above the law,when ever a Dominican man becomes a police he acts like he is a “boss” that no one can bring down,but they must know that there is always a day for the thief and the day for the master,the police force is in need of a good clean up,,victims needs justice,seize their mobile phones,ask the telephone company to search through their phone to fined out who called who and when,,it cannot be a coincidence that a police is calling the criminals that are concerned about this case at this same period of time.The victims needs justice and no lenient punishment to their aggressors .No justice no peace..
Waiting patiently officer Cuffy,and please get rid of the dirty molds,this should be very easy to trace,and when the culprits are caught,please make an example,our young girls are being molested @ a startling rate …….When they are the ones supposed to be protecting our kids.Dominica is doomed and a high price is due soon.
Someone wants to sabotage the hearing of this case in court. Who could that be and in who’s interest that would be? That is what I’m asking myself this morning. Boy, our police compromised.
You are so right, they don’t want this case to go to trial too many bigwigs involved. We will wait and see the leak was coming directly form the police did the do it on their own or were they instructed to do so. I feel so sorry for the young girl (s) as it looks like justice will not be served.
Money ,money ,money did not only make Makak dance but Dominicans in the police force also..