In a memorable press conference on April first, 2010 - the commissioner of police and the prime minister doubly and doubtlessly declared that there was a police crime ring - which had been exposed in a sting operation the night before. One police officer and two other men who allegedly set up a robbery on Chon Saan were charged.
But despite the certainty of the declaration by the top cop and the head of government, many were wary from the outset and, it appears, so was the Director of Public prosecutions.
Today - on the written instruction of the DPP's office - the charge of attempted robbery was withdrawn from police constable Jermaine Mangar, Jermaine Palacio and Ernie Miranda- when they appeared today in the Magistrate Court. The trio however still have a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery against them.
We were at the court today to hear the hissing sound of the air streaming out of the conspiracy balloon, instead we heard Germaine Mangar saying he just wants to keep his job:...
Jermaine Mangar, Cleared of Attempted Robbery Charge
"We will reveal everything. Whatever evidence they say that they have that will go through in regards with the court. But my story is a long story and likewise it's the same story i gave to them, they didn't believe it and it's a long story, however it's the truth. Well definitely I will always be a police officer. My mentality as a police officer will always remain within me. In regards to being reinstated back into the police department, it is my hope that they it will definitely happen because I am innocent of all charges. Definitely I was set up. Senior officers that work with the criminal element that's how the set up happen, but definitely I was set up. Unknowing to me I was set up. I feel much better as to one of the charges being withdrawn, however with time definitely others charges should be withdrawn. The whole rogue cop fan fare thing really got to me, I was really offended with regards to that because it was a big mess and I know to myself that everything was just fabrication. I have left everything into the hands of the above and time will reveal that I am innocent of all charges as you see that one of the charges have been withdrawn, there is no evidence to any attempted robbery."
Dickie Bradley, Attorney
"This morning in the court of the Chief Magistrate, the prosecutor on instructions inform that the charge of attempted robbery was to be withdrawn on the direct orders of the Director of Public Prosecutions having reviewed the file. Having confirmed what Mr. Mangar and his family had said from the very outset, that was done on instructions. In other words there is nothing in the file to sustain of even bringing that charge against him. There was no evidence. Mr. Mangar was handed 94 pages of bogus allegations against a police officer and it has taken this long from All Fool's Day until the middle of July 2010 for instruction to be given. I mean from the time the investigating officer is gathering all this lot of statement from people that have nothing to do with whether you committed a crime or not, they must have known that officer Mangar did not attempt to rob Chon Saan."
"I am touched and I think you are by how Mr. Mangar is responding to the questions, there is no bitterness in this man, of course as a human being he was hurted to see that none other than the Prime Minister of the country, none other than senior officials in his department have been making some wild allegations in which his name has been smeared in this country as a police officer. It's an incredible thing, we want to be careful not only against police officers, about every person who we are investigating that we allow the process to go further and say anything until the evidence is in because I am very grateful and on his behalf and his family behalf that media has come out to at least hear some of the other side because that press conference received wide publicity, those are sensational statements that inside the police department senior officers have been behind the robberies, the criminal activities, the fright that has come upon the society in relation to this whole thick shadow of crime and officer Mangar name had been call, he is the only police officer to have been arrested as a result of all that talk. No senior person gets arrested yet. One person that has been arrested the Director of Public Prosecution has instructed the police to withdraw the charge of attempted robbery against him. There remains one more charge based on statements by a person of very questionable character and that will be dealt with in due process. But the point we are making is that Mr. Mangar has no bitterness, we don't hear him saying, 'I am going to sue the government, I am going to sue this one, I am going to sue that one.' You know what is coming out of his mouth? That he wants to continue to serve as a police officer."
According to Police Press Officer Fitzroy Yearwood- after all charges are cleared, the Police Department will consider rehiring Mangar.
Police constable Jermaine Mangar, Jermaine Palacio and Ernie Miranda still have a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery against them. Their next court date is set for July 29th.
The charges were in connection with a report that the trio conspired and attempted to rob Chon Saan Palace on March 31st. Lee Mark Chang, the owner of Chon Saan palace, reported that he was at his business place in Belmopan when he received a call from an employee of Chon Saan - which two men came to Chon Saan and inquired about how the business operated.
Calls were made to senior police who allegedly set up a sting where the pair was made to call their police connection to come pick up the money. Police allege that Mangar came to pick up the money.
