Detectives could use a video link to interview a prominent lawyer in connection with the acquisition of weapons from the Royal Bermuda Regiment as well as the “suspected supply of drugs and inappropriate behaviour towards minors”, the Commissioner of Police said yesterday.

Stephen Corbishley explained that restrictions on flights because of the Covid-19 pandemic meant officers were unable to travel to the United States to question Justin Williams, whose home in Fairylands, Pembroke, was raided by police last November.

Mr Corbishley explained: “Following this search and interviews with numerous persons, the Serious Crime Unit of the Bermuda Police Service began an investigation into matters relating to Mr Williams’s alleged involvement in the purchase of firearms from the Royal Bermuda Regiment, in association with another male, alongside the suspected supply of drugs and inappropriate behaviour towards minors.

“Since this time, Mr Williams has remained in the United States where the BPS has continued to liaise, in consultation with the FBI, with his legal representative to facilitate an interview with his client.

“Originally, Mr Williams’s lawyer insisted on a video interview for his client, which was initially rejected by the BPS given normal procedure is to undertake a recorded interview in person.

“However, given the current restrictions in travel due to the Covid pandemic, the BPS has since offered the opportunity to meet Mr Williams’s offer of video interview, but we have yet to hear from his legal team as to whether he will agree to this.”

Mr Corbishley added: “The BPS is keen to resolve this matter as soon as possible, not least as a second male is connected to the firearms matters under investigation.

“The BPS will continue to press for the earliest opportunity to complete interviews, either through remote conferencing means or, when flights permit, in person in the US.”

It was earlier reported that the inquiry related to the weapons allegation was understood to involve the regiment’s former Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel David Curley, who went on leave last October, and Mr Williams.

Colonel Curley, who had reached the end of his three-year appointment and was replaced as CO by Lieutenant-Colonel Ben Beasley this month, has not been linked to the other allegations against Mr Williams.

It is understood that no charges have been brought against Colonel Curley or Mr Williams.

The number of people spoken to by police in connection with their inquiries was believed to be in double figures.

Mr Williams told The Royal Gazette earlier this year that he received two deactivated weapons from Warwick Camp for display purposes and that he did not pay for them.

He said: “I can confirm that I received two destroyed, defunct, incapable of firing projectiles and inoperable artefacts from the Royal Bermuda Regiment for historical/theatrical display purposes only.

“No money was paid for these. The entire process was conducted with and by the Bermuda Police Service and Royal Bermuda Regiment, with full certification and all approvals.”

Detective Superintendent Nicholas Pedro said, when the lawyer’s Fairylands home was searched last year: “We are executing two warrants, one under the Firearms Act and another under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, otherwise known as Pace, in relation to some ongoing investigations that we are conducting.”

He added that police were investigating “several matters” and that not all of them involved firearms.

Mr Williams said in January: “I was, and I am always, ready to co-operate with any reasonable requests regarding any issues, and the actions of the BPS in this matter evidences a level of harassment and unreasonableness that could have been easily avoided, if they had simply asked me about these show guns, before raiding my home.

“I still remain co-operative, notwithstanding their actions.“

The Royal Gazette phoned and e-mailed him for comment yesterday, but got no answer.

The BPS asked anyone with information related to the investigation to contact its Vulnerable Persons Unit on 247-1678 or through 211, “where they will be dealt with professionally and sensitively”.

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