Alleged Ranko Gang leader remanded
Published:Friday | April 22, 2022 | 12:12 AM
Alleged leader of the Ranko Gang, Constable Tafari Silvera, who is accused of hiring two hitmen to murder a police informant, was yesterday further remanded in the Clarendon Home Circuit for a plea and case management hearing.
Civilians Christopher Robinson and Mark Bennett, who are both from Cockburn Gardens in Kingston and who are jointly charged in the matter, were also remanded on a charge of conspiracy to murder. They are to return to court on July 29.
The police constable was arrested last June while on duty at the Hunt’s Bay Police Station in St Andrew and charged following allegations that he had contracted two men to kill the Clarendon man.
Yesterday, when the matter was mentioned, the court was informed that while the case file had been completed, disclosure was to be made to the defence.
The court was also told that the case in question connects to a gang investigation and that there is a possibility that the matters will be joined.
Hence, a further plea and case management date was fixed.
In the meantime, Silvera is among four police constables who have been charged in the gang matter and is expected to go before the court next week.
Four policemen who were identified as alleged members of the Clarendon-based 27-member gang were arrested in March, but one was released after the witnesses against him refused to participate in an identification parade.
Eight policemen are said to be involved in the gang, including one who fled the island when Silvera was arrested last June.
The Ranko Gang, which has been linked to 17 incidents, is alleged to have carried out shootings, burglary, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of a firearm, shop-breaking, conspiracy to murder, and abductions in Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Catherine, St Mary, Trelawny, Kingston, St Andrew, and St James between 2019 and 2021.