Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean speaks to the media on Tuesday night.
By TANEKA THOMPSON
Tribune News Editor
tmthompson@tribunemedia.net
POLICE arrested a man from Eleuthera and brought him to the capital last night to be questioned in connection with a “voter fraud” investigation, with Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean warning the public that the Royal Bahamas Police Force will take a “no tolerance” approach to such matters.
ACP Dean said the man will be charged in court as early as today.
The arrest came a day after Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall revealed that some people have registered twice at different registration sites for the same constituency, an irregularity that was picked up by the Parliamentary Registration Department’s computer database.
On Monday, Mr Hall said the department noticed cases like these from voters in New Providence, Grand Bahama and some Family Islands, adding that at least one case had been turned over to police.
Police moved swiftly in the matter, arresting an adult male yesterday.
“As a result of the complaint (from the Parliamentary Registration Department), the Commissioner of Police ordered an immediate investigation into this matter,” ACP Dean told the media at a press conference at Odyssey Airport shortly after the suspect arrived in New Providence. “Because of the swift justice, we flew some detectives into Eleuthera and I can tell you as a result of their investigation, they were able to arrest an adult male from Eleuthera in connection with this matter.
“That male will be processed, be charged and we expect him to be in court tomorrow (Wednesday) to be formally charged.
“The message that we are sending out here today is that we take a no tolerance approach to these matters. We can tell you that there are strict laws on the books ... through the election laws, in registering of voters and discipline of voters, and I’m going to tell you that anyone who contemplates breaching those laws, what is happening today is an absolute example of what will happen to those persons.
“We must show that we as a country, that we can obey laws and there are laws that must be followed.”
ACP Dean would not give specifics about the incident that led to the man’s arrest, stressing that more would be revealed in court.
“We know that there was an alleged fraud with a particular voter, that was reported to the police, so the police are actively investigating this matter, but we have sufficient information to arrest the suspect and we should be bringing formal charges tomorrow,” ACP Dean said last night.
“We only want to continue to put the warning out to our Bahamian people that we must have respect for the laws, particularly these election laws - it gets very contentious.
“We have run elections over and over, we have professional organisations, the Parliamentary Commissioner and his team (are) a professional group of persons, and we ask the public to give them the respect that is due to them. We can tell you that we have a group of intelligent officers in the Royal Bahamas Police Force who will be leading all such investigations and wherever we found someone is wanting, who breached the law, they will be arrested. We want to put the appeal to the public, if anyone knows of someone who has breached the election rules, or voter rules, who has voted somewhere twice, if you have that information, you need to bring that information to the attention of the Parliamentary Commissioner who will in turn bring it to the attention of the police, who will actively investigate.”
Meanwhile, speaking to voter fraud concerns on Monday, Mr Hall said: “What we have discovered is that people were attempting to register twice. They would go to one station and register one day and go to another station and mislead the revising officer and attempt to register again. So a few persons, several persons have attempted to register twice, (and) to us that is dishonest.
“Every voter is entitled to one voter’s card only, so when we find that, we delete those cards. No citizen ought to register more than once.”
In the midst of these concerns, the government announced yesterday that it has received confirmation from two of four international organisations invited to send electoral observers for the upcoming general election.
Comments
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrades! What crime could someone possibly have committed even if they "registered" to Vote, more than once.
Really, you act and dispatch a team senior policeman's and a plane for this - all within 48 hours - - some even wearing bullet proof vests? Lordy Jesus, help us!
Let's pray this will not lead to discouraging eligible Voters from registering to vote.
ConchFretter 7 years, 7 months ago
What crime could someone possibly have committed even if they "registered" to Vote, more than once. Really??
Bahamas Penal Code 452. Whoever, in order that he may obtain or be qualified to act in any public office or to vote at any public election, makes, signs, publishes or uses any declaration, statement or oath required by law in such case, or any certificate or testimonial as to his conduct or services, or as to any other matter which is material for the obtaining by him of the office, or for his qualification to act in the office or to vote at the election, shall, if he does so, knowing that the declaration, statement, oath, certificate, or testimonial is false in any material particular, be liable to imprisonment for two years and is guilty of a misdemeanour.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrade ConchFretter, it wasn’t like the man's was trying to organize to topple the government - something others have had accusing fingers pointed in their direction.
Justice seems moves slowly some. Right?
At least, you're not reading in this story - an account about how the policeman's are claiming - the man's runs out through the back door, when they came his front door?
Like I says. You can't make this stuff up!
Comrade, just because you register twice, or more, doesn't mean it was done with fraudulently intent?
banker 7 years, 7 months ago
That's because this is the smokescreen to hide Valentine Grimes suitcase full of ballots. This is a political gesture rife with hypocrisy.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Banker, would some Legal Eagle point Tribune readers to a state law that calls for such swift enforcement justification be taken by policeman's?
Excuse me but this is not democracy at work - more like heading straight down a slippery slope away from how the law defines real Voter Fraud.
What about a law we know is on the books that calls for up to 2 years imprisonment for MP's and other government officials, who fail to file Financial Disclosures and on time as mandated under the threat of sending their backsides to a Fox Hill jail cell?
Isn't the mere fact you "refuse to file" - not sufficient proof of intent to hide your financial affairs from Joe and Marry Public?
Election fever or not, this makes no sense - unless there's more than the public knows? I mean, is this an individual incident, or some organized attempt at Voter Fraud?
banker 7 years, 7 months ago
You never know. This could be an officer trying to make a name for his self, or it could be a DNA plot to subvert the vote of the Blueberry Hill crowd in Lower Bogue. We should have an arm's length prosecutor that is not connected to the police to bring charges. Otherwise you could be charged for such stupid things as posting a rap song making fun of the prime minister's homosexual tendencies or the ladies underwear fetish of the chief of police or the coprophagia tendencies of the PLP backbenchers.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Banker, I know nothing about alleged homosexual tendencies, or the ladies underwear fetish of other people - so count me out that topic.
I simply say there be extreme caution and walk softly whenever officials deem it necessary to deal with suspected voting irregularities.
It seems the system did what it was programmed to do, and no vote was cast, nor would the vote have been allowed to stand to be countered - even if it was cast on 2017 General Election Day - so why make a state crime out of an anthill?
ConchFretter 7 years, 7 months ago
TalRussell I agree with your point on the failure to prosecute MPs who do not file their Financial Disclosures. At least fine them the $5000 if you do not want to literally put our MPs in prison (though the law says that we can). If they are not disclosing, they can probably pay the fine anyway!!
One big issue is that our laws are selectively enforced. No one should be above them, and they should be enforced regardless of party affiliation.
I do not know if this incident is isolated or not. I am glad to hear outside organizations will be present to monitor the elections.
TalRussell 7 years, 7 months ago
Comrade ConchFretter, I think it's safe to say that this man wasn't out topple the government - by working with the Russians to rig our General Election.
Sure sounds like it was the system and not the policeman's that detected a double voters registration - so why the dispatching aircraft to fly the man's to policeman's headquarters in Nassau Town?
Couldn't they have called the man's up to let him know they needed to arrange an appointment time to chat with him. Wasn't like he was about to take flight from voting justice?
I say an unnecessary overplay by authorities over something that has no victim.
ConchFretter 7 years, 7 months ago
He may have been trying to topple the present government. He may have been trying to keep the present government in office. Either is irrelevant to me. He got caught doing what he can't do.
Sickened 7 years, 7 months ago
The way and speed in which they went after this guy makes me think that he is part of Save the Bays.
Greentea 7 years, 7 months ago
TalRussell you are right, but if there is one thing Stephen Dean has always understood it is optics. The people he is attempting to appease, are pleased with his "display" of control. He knows exactly what he is doing and if he has his way, he will be the next commissioner of police.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 7 months ago
I understand he's all wrapped up in chains....but they released the guys who held The DPM hostage and the only thing they could find in those illegal gaming joints was an innocent looking spinning wheel.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 7 months ago
Attempting to register twice ............. or to vote twice ......... or to manipulate the voters' list ........... or stuffing the ballot box ........... or slipping a "slow Lizzie" to a voter in a t-shirt ............ or with-holding a person's card by a political general .................... It's all wrong with our electoral process
Sickened 7 years, 7 months ago
Drug dealers who get caught with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs, cash and guns pay less bail that this guy. Poor fella pissed someone off.
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