Police: We did not kill I’Akobi
by PR/CA (www.nationnews.com)
THE ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE is clearing the air concerning the death of I’Akobi Maloney.
The force issued a Press release on Wednesday stating: “A number of articles, attributed to various authors, have been appearing in the Press, in which some issues have been raised following the death of I’Akobi Tacuma Hembadoon Maloney.
“The police would wish to take the opportunity to clarify certain misconceptions that may have been perceived following this tragedy.”
The 23-year-old Maloney died June 17 at The Land Lock, Cove Bay, St Lucy, and police reports were that he jumped to his death from a cliff there.
But there have been persistent calls for an independent investigation into Maloney’s death and last week his family queried the condition of the contents of a bag returned to them.
The statement went on to point out that the police responded to the Cove Bay area following a report that a suspicious looking boat was in the area and may have been depositing illegal drugs.
“Maloney was never the focus of the police’s response to that area; they merely came upon him on the cliff overlooking the area. Maloney was never, nor was it reported in the Press he was, apprehended by the police,” the release stated.
The police denied there was ever any physical contact between Maloney and the police officers and further explained that it was never reported to the Press that Maloney had jumped while still carrying his haversack.
“The police would wish to encourage anyone who may have any evidence or any information that could further assist in the investigations surrounding the death of Maloney to make contact with Assistant Superintendent Curvan Harvey, the senior police officer conducting these investigations, to have same recorded.”
Tags: Assistant Superintendent, cliff, Cove Bay, Curvan Harvey, drugs, evidence, haversack, investigation, Landlock, misconceptions