UPDATED: F.N.M. chairman's home raided by police

FROM LEFT: FNM chairman Darron Cash, Party Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Michael Foulkes, Secretary General.

As of Thursday, May 1, 2014

UPDATE: A press conference was held on the matter at the FNM headquarters on Thursday evening. FNM leader Hubert Minnis asked if party chairman Darron Cash had been targeted by police because he has been a critic of the Bank of the Bahamas. He also asked if the PLP had launched a witch hunt against their chairman. Mr Minnis added that the party stands behind Mr Cash and claimed democracy is under siege.

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE home of FNM Chairman Darron Cash was raided earlier today by Central Detective Unit officers who said they were in possession of an ex-parte search warrant issued by a Magistrate, as part of the ongoing investigation of the finances of the Bank of the Bahamas.

Mr Cash's wife is an employee at the bank.

According to a press statement issued by Mr Cash's attorneys, two laptop computers and a cellular smartphone were seized from Mr Cash's residence.

The statement said that the items were physically grabbed from his hands.

The officers reportedly refused to leave a copy of the search warrant with Mr Cash.

The statement said Mr Cash is now seeking 'redress for the violation of his Constitutional Right to Privacy' by a motion in the Supreme Court.

More like this story

proudloudandfnm 10 years, 6 months ago

Refused to leave a copy of the search warrant? WTF? This really hits me hard. If this corrupt, lazy ass, lousy government wants to arrest people they damn well better be ready come 2017. Cause plenty PLP's going to court... Morons.....

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

As perfecty legal and normal the new govt is conducting investigations and audits into BOB finances during FNM tenure. If the police investigations produce cause to conduct search warrants ISSUED BY A MAGISTRATE then so be it. Also, I give them wrong for not leaving a copy of the warrant but no one was arrested like you said.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

"Give them wrong"??? Do you realize what they just did? Webshops owners have been operating IILEGALLY, BLATANTLY for years, they had a referendum to ask the people what to do, the people said "well, close them down". NOTHING was done. All kinda money going missing from seems like everywhere NOTHING was done. But today they stormed a private citizen's house and without giving him any evidence forcefully removed some of his private possessions, FROM HIS OWN HOUSE. can you imagine if someone did that to you? "Give them wrong"?? This stuff could onltpy happen in Russia

Bahamianpride 10 years, 6 months ago

Totally Agree, This is definitely political & anyone who thinks its not political are playing party politics or simply delusional. Corruption and selective enforcement has been the way our government has operated, but as wrong as this is it will open the flood gates.. Last I checked there were some PLP politicians receiving fraudulent loans from BOB.

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

The courts aren't political my friend. You can't politicize the law.

Bahamianpride 10 years, 6 months ago

LOL, the courts are totally political. Good luck getting that warrant signed if the FNM where in power. Even better getting the police to enforce the law against higher ups in the politcal party in charge.

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

Everything is politics to ignorant folks, if someone has committed a crime they should be investigated and prosecuted regardless of affiliation. You are no better than the people who cloak muderers and violent criminals in this country running behind your colors. CRIME IS CRIME.

Bahamianpride 10 years, 6 months ago

Goodread, what about webb shops, what about BOB, NIB? where are the values their? Since u believe in the rule of law as i do why is it selectively enforce or randomly enforce? Overwhelmingly the actions would suggest politics are at play. I support neither party but tell me do u not recognize the inconsistency in applying the law? My point is let the enforcement efforts continued unimpeded by party politics, I would suggest a special prosecutor appointed by the people with its own corruption unit to carry out these task more effectively, not the A.G's office.

killemwitdakno 10 years, 6 months ago

We need lots of pictures. Bred slaves from the father of this party.

killemwitdakno 10 years, 6 months ago

I don't know street police to deal with any government officials in any country.

killemwitdakno 10 years, 3 months ago

So this is about "BOB finances during FNM tenure" , well then why didn't somebody just ask mexi. The rest of the world knows how spending went and the police have to raid. Really ineffective police.

killemwitdakno 10 years, 6 months ago

And what would be the point of them going to court afterwards if this behavior is allowed to be carried out until after their term..

killemwitdakno 10 years, 6 months ago

World Court

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

LMFAO

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

Waiting until it happens to you in front of your wife and children..this is very troubling.

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

Well....

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

You can wait, however once I walk upright I have nothing to fear. Dog dont bark at parked car.

hurricane 10 years, 6 months ago

The "comades" fool should show his face in...3...2....

realfreethinker 10 years, 6 months ago

hurricane I am almost certain the "comrade fool" is not a man. It is a female with an assumed first ,however the last name is correct.

B_I_D___ 10 years, 6 months ago

Gestapo tactics...it's the only thing the police down here know. I am sure that approached properly, Good evening Mr. Cash...please see the search warrant, here is a copy for your records, we need to take your laptops and cell phones. Approached properly, they most likely would have been handed over and presented properly...just bust through someones door and start snatching stuff, madness...where were you going, into some gang leaders drug haven where such tactics may be necessary to protect yourself from getting shot? No...simply gestapo strong arm tactics most likely encouraged due to political affiliations. Just a hunch.

birdiestrachan 10 years, 6 months ago

They must have had reason to search Mr.Cash's home. At the end of the day. He is only a Bahamian Citizen like all the rest of us. No difference. If he has done nothing wrong. He has nothing to fear.

killemwitdakno 10 years, 6 months ago

Like lay there whilst someone rolls over you, just bad driving. About two decades ago , HAI was slapped out and pushed down the stairs of a batelco by it's at the time angry biggity workers.

Bahamianpride 10 years, 6 months ago

The first step in fighting crime, now the fnm will retaliate. Be ware of tossing stones from glass houses. Let the snitching begin, time for closet doors to open so the system can be cleaned

CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 6 months ago

http://www.sec.gov/whistleblower

proudloudandfnm 10 years, 6 months ago

BOB is owned partly by our government. Everyone in Freeport watched Obie and PLeasant spend two million on a company they never even so much as tried to build. When time came to close it down BOB sent a man here to liquidate the company. I could care less who the whistle blower is. I wanna know what BOB is doing with MY MONEY.

Investigate the damned accusations not the friggin leak...

Gestapo tactics is exactly right....

Bahamianpride 10 years, 6 months ago

Allegations above sounds like corruption & official misconduct, strange thing with pandora's box once it's busted, who knows what will come out.. In the den of thieves there is no honor especially when the cops get involved.

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

Well this is embarrassing. Wonder what ANNETTE CASH did.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

She should have been reasonably frightened as anyone would be when a group of strange men bust through your door and forcefully remove your possessions

goodread 10 years, 6 months ago

Was referrring to what she did at BOB for police to seize electronics to assist their investigations into BOB FINANCES.

TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago

Should a red say's, it wasn't so. Comrades under a red shirts regime's Bahamaland, the policeman's came many times for the PLP's themselves, not only for they computer hardware, And no one red did speak up cause reds wasn’t PLP concerned enough? Now, when they come for a red shirt's computer hardware, to be investigating this and that ,"All Red Hell Breaks Loose"

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

No one said they shouldn't have been there if they had reasonable cause to believe information was at the house. The issue stems around the manner in which they conducted themselves. Did they learn nothing from the UBS debacle?

proudloudandfnm 10 years, 6 months ago

So Tal you're ok with a witch hunt then? Think we should be prosecuting whistle blowers now do you COMRADE?

spoitier 10 years, 6 months ago

How could you be for certain that it is a witch hunt? It had to be an inside job how those information got to the media the first time.

BahamianAway 10 years, 6 months ago

If said story is true then then possibly any evidence gained from seized items might not be admissible. It clearly seems the police didn't execute this warrant with any finesse and then to not leave a copy behind...shameful. I hope at least Mr. Cash was able to at least see the warrant because then that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

These police people just do whatever the crap they want under the guise of carrying out Bahamian justice. SMH!!!

spoitier 10 years, 6 months ago

I'm not taking up for the plp or the police but how do you know for sure that they didn't leave a copy of the warrant? He could've thrown the copy away and it is their word against his, this is how politics is played from both parties.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

I doubt he threw it away. You know our people, do you remember how the foreigner was roughed up a few weeks ago? And I don't care if Fiaux/Cash instigated anything, the burden is on the public officer to defuse potentially volatile situations.

PKMShack 10 years, 6 months ago

If we the people don't demand more of our Government then shame on us, we need to stop pointing fingers and start protesting their actions. We only talk and they keep insulting our minds and we take it, over and over. There getting richer and the masses follow their foolishness with dedication to colors. Police RAID home on behalf of BOB but can't run in web shops on behalf of the Bahamain voter. LAUGHABLE

realfreethinker 10 years, 6 months ago

PKMShack it's called selective enforcement. if it was the plp chairman you think it would have happened. we always prosecute the innocent and allow the guilty to flourish. All these issues we have in our country with crime we are going after people who speak up and out on corruption

newcitizen 10 years, 6 months ago

Well if we all speak up then they're gong to have a problem. We can't just accept selective enforcement, it's up to us to change it!

spoitier 10 years, 6 months ago

The PLP and FNM is corrupt, i'm not trying to defend any of them, but the reason why Mr. Cash house was raided is because his wife work at BOB. I'm not sure what position she holds there and if anyone else who works there house was raided also, there is no need to raid the PLP chairman house for this investigation or the FNM leader house for this investigation.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

Will they raid everyone's house who works at BOB? The leak could have come from the cleaning woman.

PKMShack 10 years, 6 months ago

Name 3 things this government has done since coming to power that helped this country to move forward? I will wait to see an answer to this trivia question!!!!!!!

TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago

Comrades no right in head PLP want policeman's to be doing anything which is pure politics. The Cash's are good people and will deal with this matter in proper form. But we must relate the fearless commentary by reds blogging, while it never did occur to them, that the PLP's should never have been treated likewise, under the red shirts regime. You can't defend, it not to protect all Bahamalanders.

proudloudandfnm 10 years, 6 months ago

Tal Come 2107. I better see some yellow shirts in court for the crap they're doing to our country this time.

UserOne 10 years, 6 months ago

I hope we don't have to wait until 2107 for an election.

paul_vincent_zecchino 10 years, 6 months ago

It does seem like a long time to wait, doesn't it? Some of us might be old by then....

SP 10 years, 6 months ago

@ PKMSHACK.....You want use to name 3 things this government did so far?....O.K.

1) Back step

2) Meringue

3) Three step forward, two step backward jump, shake & shuffle in place

Not necessarily in that order however, as it is always impossible to tell which they are doing.

Alltoomuch 10 years, 6 months ago

And we got Carnival to look forward to! Wonder if that will go to schedule? Does anyone know of the incident(s) that "our comrade" is referring to! Am sure that Big Bad Brad would have been shooting off his mouth on that!!

BahamianAway 10 years, 6 months ago

I was all for a Bahamas Carnival but in light of the current crime situation I wonder now if that is a good idea.

Alltoomuch 10 years, 6 months ago

You think that Carnival would be better than Bahamian Junkanoo??

BahamianAway 10 years, 6 months ago

No, it's not a matter of what is better. If they plan to market the Carnival to follow the fashion of other Caribbean nations Carnival then the two cannot be compared.

Junkanoo is an entity all it's own and nothing compares with that...I have been to several islands carnival and while they were fun and I had a great time I could not begin to compare Junkanoo to it. That would be like comparing apples and grapes and asking which is better, maybe if we were talking washington apples or granny smiths. LOL!!!

John 10 years, 6 months ago

Those who hold shares in BoB must surely be in a daze to know what is going on. Headquarters opposite Junkanoo Beach was suppose to open years ago, Branch opens in Coral Gables then closes amid mass speculation, Almost every week for most of this year, a tabloid publishes stories of operations going on at this bank that more than suggests massive scandal and abuse and misuse of the banks finances, over 200,000 shares of BoB stock on the market for as many months and not a single (did I say one?) share sells. The people need to know. Delete your phone and computer memory bloggers..a police state has arrived!

birdiestrachan 10 years, 6 months ago

How convenient Candia Dames was outside Mr. cash's house . when he came out, her and her alone, it seemed staged. No other reporters. Who called TV 12 the Police or Mr. Cash? I am sure the police had good cause to go to his home. they would know for sure ,that Dr. Minnis who would use the tragedy of a missing jet in his rants. would spin and spin. Mr. Cash is simply a Bahamian Citizen. and the Police her investigating leaks to the press from BOB. Mr.Cash is not above the law. and he did seem to have a lot of information about the BOB.

ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago

Yes Birdie, if police have cause to suspect any criminal activity at any location, present the case to the magistrate, get the search warrant, present it to the resident, present a list of all items removed and go. There is nothing wrong with that.

This was not that.

How many other private citizens can expect to see strongman tactics exercised in front if their kids?

CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 6 months ago

http://www.sec.gov/whistleblower Whistleblower are necessary.

TalRussell 10 years, 6 months ago

Comrades only in Bahama could it take a policemans raid to bring Her Majesty's "government-in-waiting" into focus as one united team.

dahasamo 10 years, 6 months ago

Police can find time to raid a citizen's home but cannot stop illegal webshop gambling??

John 10 years, 6 months ago

Is the country headed for a mass uprising? Just experienced one of the bloodiest fortnights in the history of the Bahamas..crime, crime everywhere and everyone in control went dumb.. Trade Unions threatening to bring all work to a standstill and shut the country down. Web Shop issue unresolved, VAT uncertain. Company continues to export thousands of tonnes of aragonite out the country without paying what is due..unrest in Bimini over construction on sea bed and the destruction it will cause, BTC continues to rip off the Bahamian Public with its self induced call dropping and dead spots, BEC gat power outages every other day, sexually transmitted diseases on the increase...wat next

Stapedius 10 years, 6 months ago

We haven't heard the full story yet and people are already calling it politically motivated. But suppose there is evidence that suggest that his wife was involved with the breech in bank i formation. Is the Police not suppose to act because her husband is FNM chairman? If the officers are in violation I'm sure the COP will be responsible in sorting it out. But lets not always jump to conclusions. When the Police don't work we complain. When they work we complain. What is it that we want?

Its funny though. I hear many FNMs and PLPs go on about privacy etc. Personal privacy is only important when it serves them. They all do these dirty deals and when the details become public they go on with nonsense about the constitution. But if I'm a customer at the bank and political leaders find it necessary to publish the details of a loan that I am servicing then there is something wrong. BOB needs to get the bottom of that leak. Both these parties need to be vaporized.

Bahamianpride 10 years, 6 months ago

Stapedius, This would not have happen if the FNM were in power, lets not kid ourselves this is highly political & selective enforcement. Webb shops run illegally all day nobody touch them because they bribe politicians and cops. Lastly people should have a problem with the cops because they beat poor & unconnected individuals, violate peoples rights constantly, selectively enforce the law, and many are simply ignorant. I do agree that people flip flop when it serves them that's why the system needs to be shaken up. And i further agree both these parties need to be vaporized along with the tribal mentality that keeps our country stagnant..

BahamianAway 10 years, 6 months ago

Haven't we realized already the police force is all about pomp and circumstance. They do things to get notoriety. There is no glamour and camera action in raiding the local web shop, or busting in on a group of illegal immigrants huddle in one shack, or searching the home of a known murderer and his/her accomplices.

But a raid on the home of the FNM chairman...I am sure those police were there throwing their rank around and walking through the house acting like they are big shots. Bahamian police are all about the flash of the job and not the grit.

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