Retired police says gangster ‘box dung’ politician

A retired police inspector who investigated gangs testified in the Clansman-One Don Gang trial yesterday that he was told of a situation in which a gangster had "box dung" a politician and him lap him tail and walk wey".

The witness told the Home Circuit Court that he learnt about the incident during his interactions with gang members. He made the assertion while providing information on the different types of gangs, namely generation one, two and three, which are classified according to their level of sophistication and international reach. The former cop, who had reviewed more than 100 gang cases and more than 1,000 related statements, told the court that he had investigated the Clansman Gang for years as well as the One Order Gang.

He said he interviewed more than 300 members of the Clansman Gang and more than 40 members of One Order. But he told the court that the Clansman Gang in particular was known for preying on its own members.

"Friend would kill friend," he said, adding that they were acting on the gang leader's instructions. He also reported that the Clansman Gang was known for forming alliances with members of the security forces to get information.

According to him, the gang operates a hierarchical structure with henchmen called community dons or area leaders. He said the leader would pass down the instructions to the foot soldiers who would be killed if they disobeyed.

"They tend to have dispute over turf, areas that they want to control," he said. He also shared that the Clansman Gang was primarily involved in gun transactions, drug trafficking with ganja, murders and extortion with its epicentre being the Spanish Town bus park in St Catherine where the members would extort bus and taxi drivers.

He said they would send letters to businessmen and would word it in a way that stated that they are seeking 'donations' for the provision of security. The letters, he said, would be followed up by a threatening telephone call. The trial will continue today in the Home Circuit Court.