Senior Customs Officer suspended

Cayman Marl Road understands that a Senior Customs Officer, Crystal McField-Baldwin, has been suspended from her post at the Cayman Islands Customs Department.

Whilst the details surrounding her suspension are being keep very quiet we understand that there's a corruption investigation involving her. We understand that she has been Acting Assistant Collector of Customs. Pending the outcome of the investigation she has been placed on required paid leave.

McField-Baldwin was just promoted in January 2017 to the post of Senior Officer. At the time Collector of Customs, Mr. Charles Clifford, JP spoke of the importance of succession planning. CMR reached out to Clifford for comment but have received no response.

Collector of Customs has issued the following statement on October 4, 2017:

SENIOR CUSTOMS OFFICER ON REQUIRED LEAVE

The Collector of Customs, Charles Clifford, has announced that a female Senior Customs Officer has been placed on required leave as a result of allegations of corruption being made against her.

The allegations have been referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission for an independent investigation.

Mr. Clifford confirmed that he advised the Customs Department staff that he had made a determination that it is in the public interest to place the officer on required leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Mr. Clifford reiterated the message that he sent to his staff, “we must all remember that the presumption of innocence must apply in all cases and this one is no exception. However, it is equally important to assure everyone that there is absolutely no place in the Customs Department for any officer who is engaged in corruption or any other criminal activity.”

The Collector confirmed that as a matter of policy the Customs Department does not identify individuals who are subject to investigation and would not be doing so in this case. He concluded “we must now await the outcome of the independent investigation in order to determine whether additional action is necessary”