BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER serving a nine-month sentence at Her Majesty’s Prison, Constable Timothy Abbott of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) was exonerated of all allegations and charges laid against him.
Last Thursday (Oct. 30), Abbott, who had appealed his conviction and sentence, appeared before the Justices of Appeal at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal, where the Chief Justice upheld the appeal and stated that his constitutional rights were infringed.
On August 10, 2010, Abbott was charged with “Fraudulent Conversion”. This was confirmed by the then Police Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Zenhastel Hector who stated that Abbott was taken into custody, charged and subsequently released on bail.
Two weeks prior to being charged, this media house had learnt that he was under internal investigation for “Discreditable Conduct” and was on suspension, but when contacted the PRO as well as a number of senior officers informed that the only person who could have provided a comment on the issue was the Acting Commissioner of Police, Stafford Liburd.
However, when contacted, Liburd neither confirmed nor denied that Abbott was under investigation but categorically stated, “I am not prepared to discuss the particular officer in question.”
On September 1, 2010, Abbott was slapped with another criminal charge but was again bailed following three days on remand.
SKNVibes had also learnt that Abbott was accused of allegedly taking monies from a number of persons who had applied to the Police Force for the acquisition of licenced firearms.
He was further accused of allegedly taking monies from some people under the pretext of legally purchasing their firearms from the US, among other countries, after they would have acquired their firearm licence.
However, in April 2011 Abbott appeared at the Sandy Point Magistrate’s Court where he was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to nine months in prison.
Following his first charge, it was confirmed that Abbott was suspended from the RSCNPF and was in receipt of half of his salary on a monthly basis. However, after his conviction and sentence, he was no longer in receipt of that money from the following month.
While in jail, Abbott appealed the conviction and sentence and, sometime later, legal representation was made with the appropriate authority and his half pay was reinstated.
SKNVibes today (Nov. 6) learned that, since he has been exonerated, Abbott would be seeking to have all monies owing to him from the Police Force and, for this remuneration package, he has employed the services of Attorney-at-Law Glenford Hamilton of Hamilton and Company.
One of the important questions being asked is: “Since his conviction,sentencing and exoneration and there was no public statement by the High Command on his status, is Timothy Abbott still a member of the RSCNPF?”
In seeking an answer to this question, SKNVibes visited Deputy Commissioner Stafford Liburd and was told: “I heard of the decision but I have not seen any document.”
And because of his very astute response, no further question was asked.
This media house will however provide readers with updates as more information becomes available, especially since nothing is known about the internal investigation for alleged "Discreditable Conduct".
