The Free National Movement (FNM) has issued a scathing rebuke against what it calls "Gestapo tactics" after police officers arrived unannounced at the Paradise Island workplace and home of a senior party officer.
The incident, which unfolded on Monday, is related to the ongoing investigation into the assault on FNM member Richard Johnson, who has spoken out publicly against the party leadership.
The FNM alleges that without prior notice or a clear explanation, Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) officers descended on the senior party official's workplace and later at his residence.
The officers then requested the FNM member to accompany them for questioning related to the alleged attack on Johnson at FNM headquarters last year.
In an official press statement, the FNM condemned the actions, stating, "The manner in which our senior party officer was targeted and confronted by the police is nothing short of Gestapo tactics. This is an outrageous overreach and an affront to the principles of justice and due process."
The party expressed concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the police visit, asserting that the senior FNM officer was not informed of the reasons for the sudden interrogation.
The statement continues, "This heavy-handed approach raises serious questions about the motives behind these actions and the impartiality of the investigation."
The FNM further alleges a coordinated effort to tarnish the party's image, pointing to the timing of social media posts by Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) operatives declaring the senior FNM officer was "in police custody" even before he entered the police vehicle.
As tensions escalate, the FNM has vowed to cooperate with the investigation into the assault on Johnson while simultaneously calling for an inquiry into what it perceives as an abuse of police power.
The party asserts that such actions undermine democracy and erode public trust in law enforcement institutions.
In the wake of these developments, the FNM signals its commitment to defending its members against what it deems as politically motivated attacks, pledging to take all necessary steps to safeguard the integrity of the party and the democratic process.
Comments