Police say nothing to clear Higgs James’ name, former Officer exonerated privately

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, December 22, 2022 – Police have reportedly privately cleared former officer Leonie Higgs-James of any connection to Brandon Rahming but have not yet addressed the rumours in the public space, according to her attorney Laura Maroof-Missick.

The police issued a press release on December 3rd advising of a criminal investigation into an unnamed, former officer being opened after serious allegations were made against the individual on social media. The TCI Police Commissioner went as far as to appeal for any information on corruption within the Force.

The statement, issued on December 3 said:  “The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is aware of comments being made on social media platforms alleging corruption by a former member of our staff.

The seriousness of these allegations has triggered the commencement of a criminal investigation.

Commenting on the matter, Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said: “I am asking that if any person has evidence of police corruption or any other criminal activity, provide this information directly to me, an officer (s) whom you trust or through Crime Stoppers.”

Though no officer was named, the statement followed harsh comments in the public domain about the silence of the Royal TCI Police in the face of the widespread accusations.

The resigned former woman police was accused of having a sexual relationship with Brandon Rahming, who was fingered for a string of heartless murders and TCI’s most wanted man.  Rahming was killed in a police raid of a site where he was hold-up in Dock Yard Providenciales on November 23. The ex-cop, now apparently exonerated, was also said to have been tipping Rahaming off about police movements.

All of it is now denied and the woman police vindicated; but not publically.

Her attorney has vehemently refuted the claims and called out the Police for refusing to speak on the issue while the former officer, having served 14 years feared for her own safety and that of her family.

Maroof explained that:

•  Her client resigned on November 2nd
•  Police commissioner Trevor Botting accepted that resignation on November 22nd
•  Her resignation had nothing to do with Rahming
•  The Head of the Serious Crimes Unit has cleared Higgs-James of any wrongdoing

After weeks of police calling for his arrest and connecting him to the crime spree that had terrorized the country, naturally residents were incensed when the rumours of a connection between the criminal and an officer began to circulate.

The Royal Turks and Caicos islands police did not use any platform to dispel the rumours and four days since the media statement from her attorney, there continues to be silence on the matter from the Police.

The attorney of Leonie Higgs-James believes information verifying the validity of the claims was easily obtained by Police; yet nothing was done by TCI Police to investigate and put an end to the dangerous allegations.