Commissioner says no more comments on leaked voice notes

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander says police will no longer be commenting on the ongoing investigation related to voice notes involving a suspect and two other men.

The probe led to the head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Michael Johnson, being placed on Garden leave.

Fernander announced that, "upon advice and in order not to compromise the investigation into the voice notes with regard to the former Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, there will be no further public statements about the investigation until the investigation is complete, except to confirm from time to time that the investigation is still ongoing."

The voice notes, which surfaced on social media in July, sparked an investigation led by the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Security and Intelligence Branch.

The investigation, which involves conversations about a $1 million airport heist from November 2023, has drawn public attention.

The Bahamas is set to receive assistance from three experts from the UK National Crime Agency, who were expected to arrive this month. These experts have requested certain documents prior to their arrival to facilitate their work.

Public trust in the police has been affected by this scandal.

This year, three men linked to the $1 million heist have been killed in separate incidents, further intensifying scrutiny and concern.

Fernander assured the public that despite the sensitive nature of the case, "the investigation is proceeding with integrity and dispatch."

He said the Police Force is committed to ensuring that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and transparently, while maintaining the confidentiality necessary for a fair process.