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A Supreme Court judge has cast doubt on the strength of the prosecution’s case against Michael Johnson, Bjorn Ferguson, and Sergeant Deangelo Rolle–three men accused of corruption in connection with a $1.4 million Bank of The Bahamas heist, after a forensic voice expert failed to link them to viral WhatsApp recordings that were important to the allegations.

What happened

According to the Nassau Guardian, Justice Dale Fitzpatrick questioned how prosecutors plan to prove their case against Johnson, the former head of CID, Ferguson, an attorney and Sergeant Rolle, saying, “I don’t know how the prosecution intends to prove its case.”

The case stems from the November 2023 theft of more than $1.4 million, allegedly stolen from a Toyota Harrier that was transporting money for the Bank of The Bahamas. Prosecutors claimed gang leader Fox, and others, bribed Johnson and Ferguson with part of the stolen money so that he wouldn’t face prosecution– and that the voice recordings circulating on WhatsApp tied the men to the crime.

But a forensic speech analyst from Lancaster University in the UK could not confirm that the voices belonged to the accused.

Why it matters

This development could severely weaken this high-profile corruption case and injure public trust in the justice system.

The judge said the analyst’s report “did the prosecution no good” and removed “a plank in the chain” of their argument.

The big picture

The expert confirmed the recordings were not AI-generated, but still couldn’t match them to Johnson, Ferguson, or Rolle.

The prosecution only plans to use the part of the report confirming the audio’s authenticity as not AI generated– but not the identity of individuals, a move the judge called “problematic.”

The DPP recently dropped charges against security guard Akeil Holmes, who was once accused of stealing the money and is now listed as their witness.

What’s next

The defense attorneys — including Murrio Ducille, KC, and Damian Gomez, KC — are likely to push for the case’s dismissal if prosecutors can’t establish a clear link between the recordings and the accused.

The bottom line

With no clear voice match, the prosecution’s case may be collapsing.

Following the indictment of two senior law enforcement officers plotting to transport tons of cocaine into the United States, Former Minister of National Security Marvin Dames is concerned that the Bahamas government is in ‘spin mode’ instead of addressing the serious allegation head-on.

“As the nation’s reputation is under scrutiny, the government is in spin mode,” he told Host of Beyond the Headlines Shenique Miller. “You can’t spin the truth when the truth rests in the hands of another nation.

“Sooner or later the truth will reveal itself.”

His comments came on the heels of Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander’s national address when he said he would speak to Dames, Former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, and Former Commissioner Anthony Ferguson about the investigation that was started in May 2021, (before Fernander was in office) in regards to RBPF’s Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, RBDF’s Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker and another RBPF officer, Sergeant Prince Symonette’s scheme to transfer tons of cocaine to the United States from the Bahamas after it arrived from South America.

When Miller asked what he intends to say when contacted, Dames said, “Go directly to the source. That’s where the answer is.”

Fernander contended he was caught off-guard by the indictment because the US did not present him or anyone else in government, as far as he’s aware, with a report involving the eleven Bahamians.

But Dames said the US treated him differently when he was in government.

“When I served, the source came to me. So if the source is not coming to you, the government, or the police force, then we have to ask ourselves the question, ‘Why?’”

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander is awaiting a request from the US government to arrest the remaining individuals mentioned in a New York indictment following charges of conspiracy to transport cocaine and firearms into the United States.

Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force along with William Simeon and two Colombians– Lorielmo Steele-Pomare and Luis Fernando Orozco-Toro, were arrested by US officials.

Eight other men remain free.

“We will of course cooperate fully with the US Department of Justice and to date we have not received a request to arrest the other names in the indictment,” Commissioner Fernander said on Sunday in a television broadcast.

Fernander assured that he knows no other individual than those mentioned in the indictment.

“Neither have we given the names of any additional government officials who may be under suspicion. As far as I know, no one else has been given the names of any individual reference with the indictment,” he said.

According to the indictment, Curtis mentioned the name of a politician who allegedly authorized the shipment for $2 million.

The politician is not publicly known, but many speculate.

“Speculation as to who those individuals might be can be extremely damaging to the reputation of innocent people,” Fernander contended. “At the moment, nobody knows. We therefore discourage people from calling any names from the current or previous administration. It is pure speculation.”

The indictment said the crime and its investigation started in May 2021, with some pointing at the previous administration. As calls for Fernander’s resignation grow loud, he made it clear in his speech that he was not Commissioner at the time.

Fernander said he contacted the past Commissioner Paul Rolle and will reach out to the Former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and the former Minister of National Security Marvin Dames to find out if any concerns were raised or intelligence given during their tenure.

In light of the recent events surrounding Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, and Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker, the conversation about accountability and leadership within law enforcement agencies has been reignited.

The indictment of Curtis, Roker along with Sergeant Prince Symonette, for their alleged involvement in a cocaine importation conspiracy in the United States, is a stark reminder of the weaknesses that exist within the institutions tasked with protecting the country.

The role of a chief superintendent or a chief petty officer is crucial in setting the standard for integrity and ethical conduct within law enforcement. When an individual in such a position is accused of crimes that directly undermine the organization, it casts a shadow over the entire organization they represent.

It is a breach of public trust that cannot be overlooked.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force is already plagued with corruption allegations following leaked audio recordings released on social media involving another Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson who is in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The public is still awaiting the results of the investigation after he was placed on leave for involvement in the matter.

Leader of the Free National Movement Michael Pintard and Party Chairman Duane Sands have rightfully called for resignations and a commission of inquiry into the force regarding the outstanding matters rocking the organization.

In the wake of these allegations, it is important to consider the broader consequences for the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF).

The arrest of Curtis and Roker suggests a systemic issue that may require a more extensive review of the internal controls and leadership structures of these organizations.

An unnamed politician is alleged to have authorized the shipment of narcotics for $2m, according to the indictment. This breaches further trust in our government.

The question of who should resign is about restoring faith in the system.

It’s about ensuring that those in positions of power are not only seen beyond reproach but also capable of nurturing an environment where corruption is not tolerated.

This incident is a catalyst for a thorough examination of the RBPF and RBDF and should lead to reforms that strengthen their ability to serve and protect.

Resignations, in this case, should not be limited to those directly implicated in the scandal. They should extend to any individual whose oversight failed to detect or prevent such egregious abuses of power.

This includes higher-ups who may have turned a blind eye or were complacent in the face of warning signs.

The integrity of law enforcement is paramount.

The citizens of The Bahamas deserve to have confidence in their protectors.

The actions taken in response to this scandal will be a testament to the RBPF and RBDF’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement and rebuilding the eroded trust.

Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe was noticeably absent in the House of Assembly on Wednesday as Prime Minister Philip Davis addressed the New York indictment of three officers accused of transporting cocaine into the United States–two officers are high-ranking.

Minister of Labour Pia Glover Rolle stood in his stead as leader of Government Business.

Munroe said the public should not be alarmed at his absence. He is attending a CARICOM Securities Ministers meeting in St Kitts.

He also denied authorizing the shipment of tons of cocaine shipment from South America through the Bahamas to the United States.

“I have not received $2million. I have not been asked to accommodate any wrongdoing. I have not offered to accommodate any wrongdoing, and I state that categorically,” he told The Tribune.

This comes after Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis was arrested and indicted for cocaine and firearm transport to the United States, implicating a politician in the scheme.

According to the indictment “In exchange for $2million USD, a high-ranking Bahamian politician, whom Curtis named, would authorize the assistance and involvement of Bahamian law enforcement officials –– including armed RBPF officers –– in facilitating and ensuring cocaine shipments…”

Munroe joins Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper in denying any role in the scheme.

“Such allegations demand thorough investigation, and no stone will be left unturned in seeking the truth,” Prime Minister Philip Davis said in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

He said his Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell had recommended sending a diplomatic note to US officials requesting more information about the allegation about the politician’s involvement.

It is not known if the public will be privy to the information if it is divulged.

“I know that in some of these law enforcement matters, information is given to you on the basis that you do not disclose it,” Munroe said.

Contention quickly grew in the House of Assembly today when House Speaker Patricia Deveaux prevented Opposition Leader Michael Pintard from speaking on the indictment of senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force expected to stand trial for cocaine importation in a New York trial.

Deveaux contended that Pintard’s letter was dated today (November 27) but was requested to speak at “tomorrow’s sitting,” and was given to her at 9:05 which is not exactly an hour before the House meets.

She said this error warranted her putting a quorum on the floor and asking ten parliamentarians to stand in support of Pintard’s presentation.

Pintard insisted that in addition to the letter, he spoke to the clerk for permission to speak on Wednesday morning after Prime Minister Davis’ speech and had given the letter more than one hour before the House met.

Pintard said he should be granted permission due to “the matter of gravity” but Prime Minister Philip Davis said the arrest of the three officers in the United States, was “not necessarily a matter of public importance.”

However, Pintard noted that Davis had already noted the significance of the matter when he issued a statement notifying the public that he intended to address the matter in the House. “If it is important to him it can be no less important to us to have an opportunity to address the issue,” Pintard said.

Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis, Sergeant Prince Symonette and Chief Petty Officer Darren Roker are three of thirteen men charged with transporting cocaine to the United States from South America. Curtis is in charge of the Lynden Pindling Airport Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and stands accused of accepting bribes from traffickers to facilitate the transportation of cocaine while “providing safe passage for the traffickers and their cocaine loads through the Nassau Airport and elsewhere in the Bahamas.”
Read more| Damning evidence

Sergeant Prince Symonette of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is accused of working with Curtis and traffickers to transport the drug by air and sea while accepting bribes “for streamlining customs clearance for aircraft,” receiving bribery money of $10,000 as a down payment, while Roker of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force allegedly received $10,000 in bribery money as a down payment to alert traffickers about sensitive operations by the US Coast Guard and OPBAT.

Curtis and Symonette “planned a trip to the United States to receive approximately $1.5m in US currency, which would represent an advanced payment on an agreed-upon at least approximately 500-kilogram load of cocaine to be imported through The Bahamas into the United States,” the indictment read.

After Davis spoke on the matter involving the indictment, Pintard attempted to speak on the matter too, but was shut down. St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright defending Pintard said, “Madam Speaker it is wrong what you are intending to do,” as East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson joined and shouted, “You trying to silence him. It is wrong. It is absolutely wrong.”

Speaker Deaveaux then quickly suspended the House until December 4.

Featured picture credit: The Tribune