Breakdown of law

This has been long suspected by ordinary citizens. And, as far back as August last year, this newspaper asked why so few arrests had been made in a relatively easy-to-detect crime. We questioned the lack of sting operations and tracking technology, among other measures that should have made kidnappers easy prey for a well-organised law enforcement unit. And, we speculated, if such measures had been tried and had failed, it most likely meant that individuals within the Police Service were deeply involved in this whole business.

So, now that Army paraphernalia have been discovered in the hands of known criminals, and now that some policemen have been linked to kidnappings, it seems clear that kidnappers have been having a successful spree because of their links to rogue officers and soldiers. And there are other links still to be explored. There is the involvement of bank personnel, for example, since kidnappers often seem to have inside information about their victims’ net worth. There is also the involvement of, as we euphemistically describe them, the “members of a certain religious organisation”.

Until all these elements are dealt with, then kidnapping for ransom cannot be stamped out. The Army has always had a reputation for disciplined soldiers, but even a military organisation is not immune to the wider social forces. And most soldiers are taken from the same pool which produces the murderous bandits of today. In addition to this, there were reports last year of gangs of soldiers beating up citizens in revenge for transgressions against one of their own — and, although the Army’s hierarchy investigated these allegations, they found no evidence of wrong-doing.

Since it is unlikely that ordinary people would just invent such stories, however, the lack of prosecution only meant that some soldiers would have become more confident about breaking the law. And, if that virus is not to spread throughout the ranks, the Army must ensure it upholds its reputation for moving swiftly in finding and dealing with any soldiers who transgress the Army’s strict codes.

The police are an entirely different matter. The Service has always been known for having rogue cops. Bribe-taking, beating up prisoners, malicious prosecutions, even murder — all have been laid at the door of the Police Service. And, even if it is true that only a minority of policemen are criminally inclined, the fact remains that failure to deal with police officers who abuse their authority inevitably leads to such officers becoming bolder and, worse yet, junior officers following their example.

This newspaper has continually called on Police Commissioner Trevor Paul to move with dispatch to investigate officers who have beaten up prisoners or otherwise abused their position. But the top cop apparently does not see such action as a priority. So the chickens are coming home to roost, with one officer having been found guilty of murder for the first time in the country’s history, and others now under suspicion of involvement in kidnappings.

We will wait to see how the Army and the Police Service handle these parallel problems. But, unless it is handled quickly and effectively, a further breakdown of law and order is inevitable.