Investigations into allegations of the revival of the New Flying Squad Investigations Unit (NFSIU) by the Police Complaints Authority are nearing completion. The investigation is in its final stages, as all the key witnesses have been interviewed and statements recorded, the T&T Guardian understands. On Monday, retired police inspector Mervyn Cordner again met with PCA officials for a further interview.
Cordner has repeatedly claimed he was recalled by former minister of national security Jack Warner to head the revived squad. Contacted yesterday, Cordner confirmed that he met with PCA officials, saying, “I received a message that they needed to meet with me urgently and I went. We held extensive discussions and I was told by next week the report will be completed.”
Cordner first met with the PCA on March 19, when he was interviewed for more than six hours. He handed over several documents, e-mails and pictures to substantiate his claims. On March 21, Cordner also met with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Simon Alexis and was interviewed again. Alexis has been mandated by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams to investigate the claims of the revival of the NFSIU.
The CoP opted to step aside after there was criticism of his involvement in the investigations on the grounds of a possible conflict of interest. Williams was named in a report submitted to Warner by National Security Operations Centre director Garvin Heerah giving his account of the matter.
Williams also denied having any knowledge of the NFSIU, but Heerah, in his report to Warner, said he had approached the top cop for the NFSIU members to be made special reserve police (SRPs). Cordner also claimed that 45 applications for the members of the NFSIU to be precepted were sent to Williams. Documents show it was DCP Mervyn Richardson who recommended that members of NFSIU become SRPs in order for them to be precepted.
An internal e-mail trail from the Ministry of National Security confirmed the NFSIU was up and running. They showed a base was being sought for the NFSIU with Heerah’s knowledge. Eventually, the NFSIU was set up at the premises of Donrich Security Kennels at Golden Grove Road, Arouca, where it ran for four months until being shut down because of lack of funding.
Businessman Richard Koorn, the owner of the premises, which the NFSIU rented for $200,000 a month, corroborated Cordner’s claims. He has also been interviewed. Koorn claimed he was privy to several discussions and meetings surrounding investigations, in particular, the murder of Chinese nationals Yang Jiang Hua and Wu Xia Hua, who were shot dead last July at their family’s home and business place, Tiger’s Chinese Restaurant in Cunupia.
Their murder was among six that Cordner claimed the NFSIU was instrumental in helping police solve, though Williams dismissed the claims. Miscellaneous Marketing Company Ltd, a company that leases unmarked vehicles to the T&T Police Service, also supplied eight vehicles to the NFSIU last year.