Akeimo Simon, a former Police detective who was attached to Division 4 A, was on Thursday found guilty of demanding money with menace with intent to steal and was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. The charge arose from an incident on March 9, 2024, during which Simon and Police Sergeant Wilson demanded $1 million from an engineer attached to the Public Works Ministry and his wife, claiming to be officers from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), who were investigating a money laundering case brought against them. They claimed that the money requested was to forgo the investigation being conducted against them. As such, a report was made at SOCU, and based on investigations, they were arrested and charged. During the trial, the court heard that Simon, who was then a serving Police officer, used his position and apparent Police authority to cause the complainant to believe that he was the subject of an official SOCU investigation. The court also accepted evidence that Simon produced a firearm during the encounter and indicated that the matter could be settled by the payment of money.

Simon denied the allegations and maintained that his involvement related to a private financial dispute concerning a friend. However, the court rejected his account and found that the prosecution had proved the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. In sentencing Simon, the court considered his age, clean antecedents, family responsibilities and prospects for rehabilitation. The court also took into account the seriousness of the offence and his misuse of the authority associated with his office as a Police officer.

The court, however, dismissed the charge against Sergeant Wilson since the evidence was not enough to convict him. Simon was unrepresented. SOCU was represented by Prosecutor Aaron Daniels, Attorneys-at-Law David Braithwaite and Attorney-at-Law Darren Chan. Head of SOCU Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh warns that this conviction reinforces the importance of holding persons accountable where public office or institutional authority is used for unlawful purposes. The Unit remains committed to investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, corruption and related offences, and will continue to pursue matters where the evidence supports criminal charges.