When he gets out of prison he might marry a Trini and ask for asylum.

5 youths accused of fake kidnapping





Accused Suraj Dookie, 21, left, and Amoroso Sookdeo, 20, being escorted to Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Photo: Rishi Ragoonath



BY ANIKA GUMBS-SANDIFORD (Trinidad Guardian)



Bowing their heads in an attempt to hide their faces, five youths were escorted into Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with faking the kidnapping of 13 year old Vanessa Nandlal.

Amoroso Sookdeo, 20, and Suraj Dookie, 21, appeared with a 13-year-old student of Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive, and two other girls, 16 and 17 years, respectively.

Nandlal, daughter of a shoe store clerk, was reportedly kidnapped last Tuesday, while on her way to a parlour a short distance from her Clarke Road, Charlieville, home.

The young girl was found by police officers last Thursday in a house in Enterprise.

Dressed in a baby pink and white jersey and a light pink, frilled skirt, Nandlal was accompanied by a relative to court.

The five accused appeared before Magistrate Margaret Alert in the Second Court, to answer a charge which alleged that on June 10, in the county of Caroni, they demanded with menaces the sum of $500,000 from Nandlal’s mother, Roslyn Rambarran, with the intent to steal the said sum by pretending that Nandlal was abducted and falsely imprisoned.

Dookie is also charged with two counts of sexual assault against a minor.

An additional charge of wasteful employment of police time was also slapped on Dookie.

In a bail application yesterday, attorneys representing the accused told the court that the accused had no previous or pending matters, and was not a flight risk.

Shaking her head, Alert replied:

“Are you assuming that I am granting bail. I definitely want a trace conducted.”

All five were remanded into custody and will re-appear in the First Court on Friday.

the charges

The five accused appeared before Magistrate Margaret Alert in the Second Court, to answer a charge which alleged that on June 10, in the county of Caroni, they demanded with menaces the sum of $500,000 from Nandlal’s mother, Roslyn Rambarran, with the intent to steal the said sum by pretending that Nandlal was abducted and falsely imprisoned.



Where's my hindu homebhai Kidmost????????????????????

No licences for foreign vendors


Kimberly Castillo



Tuesday, June 17th 2008(T&T Express)



ALL Charlotte Street vendors who are not citizens of Trinidad and Tobago were yesterday refused licences to vend in the Charlotte Street Heritage Programme, which comes on stream at the end of this month.

A group of African, Grenadian, Guyanese and Vincentians gathered at City Hall, Port of Spain, only to be turned away by the administration.

Some of the vendors have been selling on the streets of Port of Spain since the mid 80s. Guyanese vendor Clairann Andrews said the decision to only allow those with citizenship to vend was an act of discrimination. Andrews and a number of vendors displayed their identification cards along with other legal documents, including certificates of residency.

"Why is it that around election time our ID is valid so that we can vote and we can use it to conduct business, but they are now telling us that we cannot use it to get a licence to vend?" Andrews asked.

"I'm abiding by the rules and regulations and now I am being deprived of vending. If it is my choice that I not be a citizen of this country, do I have to be victimised like this and not be allowed to vend?"

Andrews and other angry vendors said they were prepared to defy the rule and ply their trade in order to feed their families. However, they are now calling on Local Government Minister, Senator Hazel Manning, to reconsider and give non-nationals a chance to vend when the programme begins. But Coordinator of the Charlotte Street Heritage Programme, Margaret McDowall-Thompson, said the laws of the land will not be bent to accommodate the vendors.

"The programme is for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago only. We have to give precedence to our citizens. Since the Ministry of Local Government has taken over the programme we are going by the rules. We are sympathetic to the vendors, many of whom have been vending for years, but at the end of the day, the law is the law," she said.

Vending on Charlotte Street has been mired in controversy since March 30, when the Charlotte Street Heritage Programme was terminated following complaints of illegal and uncontrolled vending on the streets.

In May, Manning announced in Parliament that vending in Charlotte Street would return. She added that $27 million would be spent to implement a special policing unit for the Central Business District in Port of Spain.

Vendors who have successfully re-registered will have to undergo an orientation with the Port of Spain City Corporation. McDowall-Thompson said the programme, which will run on three days (Friday-Sunday) for a duration of 18 months, will depend heavily on the patrol of police officers. Compliance officers will also be stationed on Charlotte Street to ensure the vendors abide by the rules and regulations. She warned that any non-nationals found vending will be jailed and deported.

Judge: Killing was demonic



Tuesday, June 24 2008(T&T Newsday)



DEMONIC, wicked, merciless, cold and callous were just some of the words used by Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon yesterday, to describe convicted killers Nadia Pooran and Shelly-Ann Anganoo before sentencing them each to 20 years in prison.

Pooran, 27, and Anganoo, 23, pleaded guilty to the 2003 killing of retired school teacher Ralphie Ramcharan.

Pooran, Anganoo, and two other men were held for the crime. However, the men pleaded not guilty and are to stand trial.

Yorke-Soo Hon, in a pre-amble before sentencing the two, said, “The deceased was stabbed mercilessly, beaten, and left to die. This extreme callousness cannot go un-noticed by the court.

These young women were so callous, that very night they attempted to use the deceased’s bank card at a gas station. This action was cold and heartless. It was an heinous act of cruelty and one which was committed quite brutally. This sought of crime leaves little room to extend the hand of mercy.”

Ramcharan’s body was found on March 26, 2003, close to the Barataria flyover by gardeners.

He was bludgeoned to death and his feet were tied at the ankles. “There is an appalling and disturbing lack of respect for human life in society. It is quite alarming. There is no excuse for this killing. .... It was an un-provoked, gratuitous act of violence,” the judge said.

“It is a sad day when the court has to sentence two young girls for such a wicked and demonic act. The killing was not premeditated but one which spiralled out of control.

The original plan was prostitution. Both women, since their arrest have cooperated with the police, have shown remorse for their action, they have not wasted the court’s time in this matter and have furthered their education. Basically they have done well for themselves. However the court must express its abhorrence for this crime,” Yorke-Soo Hon said.

Ramcharan had gone to Dino’s bar, in Curepe, when he was followed to his car by Pooran and Anganoo.

The two women got into Ramcharan’s car and were joined by two men. Ramcharan was then forced to the back seat of the car and was stabbed with a pair of scissors and beaten with a wheel spanner. According to a post-mortem report, Ramcharan had a total of 54 injuries about the body, including his skull, brain, neck, limbs and chest.

In a plea for leniency, lawyers for the two Israel Khan, SC, Daniel Khan and Hayden St Clair Douglas said the two women lived hard live but sought to educate themselves while incacerated.

St Clair Douglas said Pooran was a victim of rape and abuse.

He said Anganoo she did not intend to kill anyone but was on “the hustle” that night to buy a television for her children.

Daniel Khan, in his plea for leniency for Anganoo, said she was only 16 years at the time of the incident and was easily influenced by her peers.

He said Anganoo was mislead by her cousin (Pooran) as he begged that she be given a lighter sentence since her role in the killing was limited. This was dismissed by the judge who said that she saw no justification for imposing different sentences.

After the sentencing exercise, family members of the two women cried outside the Hall of Justice on Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Pooran’s aunt Patricia Rampersad said she felt it for Pooran and her two grieving children. Anganoo’s relatives refused to speak to the media.


Nadia Pooran

Shelly Ann Anganoo

RESCUED

Avita freed in Maracas; cops kill kidnapper


Joel Julien


Friday, June 27th 2008 (T&T Express)


picture & source
SAVED: Kidnap victim Avita Bissoondatt, 22, smiles after being rescued by police yesterday off a precipice at the North Coast Road, Maracas. -Photo: Curtis Chase



IN a camp hidden deep inside a forested area in a precipice off the North Coast Road, police officers rescued 22 year old Avita Bissoondatt, yesterday evening.

And in the search for the kidnapped student, police killed one of her captors, while three others are said to be on the run.

Dead is a 25 year old career criminal with the alias "Sandman" known to police for previous crimes including kidnapping, robbery, and the trafficking of illegal drugs.

Bissoondatt, who lives with her grandmother at Soledad Road, Lange Park in Chaguanas went missing last Saturday evening.

Bissoondatt, the niece of attorney Darin Bissoondatt, vanished after she met with a girlfriend Shanice Ramcharan. Police are still searching for Ramcharan, who lived at an apartment in St Augustine.

On Sunday, Bissoondatt's car was found burnt in a forested area of Valencia.

The drama surrounding Bissoondatt's rescue mission unfolded around 1.30 yesterday afternoon.

Acting on a tip off the officers, including homicide detectives and members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad, found Bissoondatt's prison.

The Bissoondatt's four captors greeted the police with automatic gunfire. The police returned fire and "Sandman" was killed.

One of his cohorts ran further into the forest while the other two dived off of a cliff, police said.

Police believe the diving duo may already be dead and the trio may have also been shot.

But in case they are not, the authorities are asking all medical institutions to be on the look out for persons nursing gunshot injuries.

Around 3.30 p.m., while homicide officers including ASP Johnny Abraham and Inspector Stanley Ramdeen stood guard on the North Coast roadside leading to Bissoondatt's jail, a crew of North Eastern Division Task Force officer descended into the densely forested area.

Their mission was two fold, bring Bissoondatt out alive and search for her kidnappers. Twenty minutes into their search three gunshots, a couple minutes apart, were heard.

One hour later at 4.47 p.m. the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago's helicopter broke the overcast sky and joined the search party. The Fire Service's land search and rescue unit also joined the search team minutes later.

At exactly 5.03 p.m. the first body came out, it was Bissondatt's captor bearing injuries from the gun battle with police. He was taken out of the area carried on a makeshift stretcher consisting of branches and cloth. He was carried away in a tray of an unmarked police van.

In stark contrast to her captor, Bissoondatt came out of the forest bearing a beautiful smile, with a sense of relief and gratitude in her eyes. She was placed into an awaiting ambulance after being carried out on one the ambulance's stretcher.

Bissoondatt was carried to the Port of Spain General Hospital where a medical examination was performed.

Curious onlookers, who slowed down at the scene of the heightened police activity, remarked at the increased spate of violence in the once serene area for the week.

On Sunday, Roopdath Alexander, 37, and then on Tuesday Marcel Wynn, 39, were both shot dead in the district.

Investigations are continuing.

Avita’s best friend in jail



By Andre Bagoo Tuesday, July 1 2008(T&T Newsday)



SHANICE RAMCHARAN, 20, was yesterday remanded in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Magistrate’s Court after appearing on charges of kidnapping, robbing and demanding a ransom for the release of her friend and one time schoolmate Avita Bissoondath, who was rescued by police last Thursday.

The charges against Ramcharan allege that on June 21 at Streatham Lodge Road, Tunapuna, she together with other persons, abducted, detained and imprisoned Bissoondath in contravention of the Kidnapping Act.

They further allege that on the next day, June 22, Ramcharan “by way of negotiation” demanded a ransom from Brian Bissoondath, an uncle of Avita, for her safe release.

Ramcharan, along with other persons, is also alleged to have robbed Avita while armed with a firearm of several items including: a white Honda Civic, five gold bracelets worth $10,000, one brown and black Guess handbag worth $630, $760 in cash, one silver guard worth $200, sunglasses valued at $750, a black Kipling wallet worth $250, one chocolate coloured mobile phone worth $1,300, a driver’s permit, a Western Union money transfer card and a Unit Trust Corporation card. All the items are estimated to total $53,400.

Members of the press camped out in front of the courthouse on St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, from as early as 8.30 am yesterday, waiting for Ramcharan to appear in court.

She was eventually brought in a silver saloon car at about 12.48 pm.

The car parked in the western driveway of the building and Ramcharan was quickly whisked inside, her back facing the street. Thirty minutes later, she appeared before Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor.

When the magistrate called the matter at about 1.26 pm, Ramcharan told her that she had retained an attorney, who was not yet in court. She was advised to sit in the dock to wait for her attorney Colin Selvon before her matter was called.

At about 1.36 pm Selvon arrived. While the magistrate dealt with other matters, he asked his client whether she had given any statements to the police and if so, when. When the matter was finally called once more at 1.46 pm, Selvon immediately said to the magistrate, “I appear for the accused.”

Baboolal-Gafoor then read out the indictable charges, which did not require Ramcharan to plead.

But while kidnapping for ransom is a non-bailable offence, there was confusion in the court over whether or not Ramcharan, who has no previous criminal convictions, could be granted bail.

Police prosecutor Sgt Lancelot Samuel objected to the granting of bail, not on the grounds of the 2007 Bail (Amendment) (No 3) Act, but rather on the ground that Ramcharan was subject to ongoing police inquires.

“We are objecting to bail on the grounds that the police have to further inquire into other matters with this person,” Lancelot told the magistrate.

But that ground was questioned by Ramcharan’s attorney.

“I don’t know if that is a valid objection to granting anybody bail,” Selvon said, “How long will those inquiries continue?” He said his client has no criminal record and was the holder of six O Levels and four A Levels and that she had attained Level I of the ACCA (accounting) qualifications. All this, he said, painted a different picture of Ramcharan whom he said had been described by “the media reports” as being “the mastermind” behind Avita’s kidnapping.

“This court does not take into account media reports,” the magistrate said abruptly, silencing Selvon.

It was at this stage that Samuel pointed out to the magistrate that she could not grant the accused bail within 60 days at which point she will have a right to apply to a judge in chambers.

“Are you referring to the amendment to the Bail Act?” the magistrate asked. “Is the amendment still in force?” As she researched this point by checking the legislation she had before her, Selvon said that even the argument that the kidnapping charge was non bailable was not grounds for Ramcharan being remanded as she was charged with other offences.

But the magistrate by then had the Act before her, and realised that the statute was clear.

“According to the section (Section 5 (A) (1)) it is not bailable,” she said, going on to read out the section.

“A court shall not, shall not grant bail to a person charged with the offence of kidnapping for ransom...This court has no discretion to grant bail... So why are people asking me for bail?” Ramcharan, sitting in the prisoners’ dock with her hair bunched to the back by three woogies and wearing small spectacles, a gold ring on her right ring finger, a grey jumper and dark blue jeans, looked on in silence. Her mother, Maria, sat in the public gallery of the court.

The magistrate ordered the State to disclose a statement Ramcharan gave to the police to her attorney by the next occasion before remanding the accused into custody. She further transferred the matter to the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court where it is expected to be called tomorrow. Newsday understands that attorney Keith Scotland is tipped to get a fiat to prosecute the case.

Ramcharan had been in police custody since last Tuesday, three days after Bissoondath, 21, went missing after leaving her Lange Park, Chaguanas home. Her burnt out car was on that day recovered by police in the Tappana Forest of north east Trinidad. She was later rescued in a dramatic operation by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS), Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI), the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SUATT) and the Fire Services on Thursday in Maracas. Both girls were schoolmates at St Augustine Community College.


IN COURT:Shanice Ramcharan in court yesterday.

Where's my hindu homebhai Kidmost????????????????????


Kidbhai give me an others in here a response!

Wanted man surrenders



By RHONDOR DOWLAT Wednesday, July 9 2008 (T&T Newsday)


As the funeral service for three-year-old Roshni Ramdial was taking place in Charlieville yesterday afternoon, police were questioning a man in connection with her murder, hours after he surrendered to a justice of the peace.

A nine year old boy who was in the house was also in safe police custody.

The man, 35, had contacted Justice of the Peace (JP) Krishna Ramkissoon of Sumaria Trace, Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville, at about 8 am, saying he was wanted for the murder of the girl and wanted to give himself up to the police.

Ramkissoon telephoned the police and told them he would call when the suspect arrived at his home. The suspect arrived at Ramkissoon’s house at about 9.25 am and within minutes, detectives including constables Jeremiah Ramsubhag and Eldon Calliste of the Chaguanas CID drove to the JP’s house.

The two were subsequently joined by detectives Mervyn Ransome, Tolan Olliviere and Fela Julien. It only took about five minutes before the officers left the house with the slim-build suspect who was handcuffed and wore a cap. As he walked through the gates of Ramkissoon’s house, the suspect bent his head as he was led into an unmarked police car. He was taken to the nearby Chaguanas Police Station where he was handed over to Sgt Harripersad of the Homicide Bureau. Up to late yesterday he was still being questioned in the presence of Ramkissoon.

The suspect allegedly told the police that he was innocent and did not kill Roshini who was found unconscious in a crib on Saturday morning.

He said Roshini was alive when he saw her last Friday. He went to the home of Roshini’s mother Rukmin Ramdial at Assaraff Road, Charlieville. While there, Roshini was playing with packets of baking soda and curry powder. Her mother left to go to work and he stayed with Roshini. He said he bathed Roshini and put her to bed. When her mother returned from work at about 7 pm he left, he told the police.

On Saturday morning, Rukmin took Roshini to the Chaguanas Health Centre where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy which was carried out on Monday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James confirmed that the child suffered blunt trauma to the head.

Police began a search for the suspect who told investigators yesterday that he was too scared to come forward when he heard that Roshini was dead.

The police are expected to hand over the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for further instructions. If the go ahead is given, the suspect would be charged and appear in court later this week, sources said.

Yesterday, Rukmin was too weak to stand on her own and had to be supported by her older daughter Susan Ramdial and other relatives during Roshni’s funeral which took place at her grandmother’s home at Marchin Road, Charlieville.

“The child never do you nothing. That was my child. You are a bobolee,” Rukmin cried out before she collapsed into Susan’s arms. Someone poured water on her face to revive her.

Her brother Deolal Ramdial could not continue with the eulogy as he began to weep uncontrollably. Before the service, Deolal said to mourners, “No child deserve that. God say to love the children of the world.”

Susan also kept watch over her dead sister as she lay dressed in white in a white coffin. A teddy bear was placed beside Roshini, who had discoloured marks on her face. Roshini was laid to rest at the Charlieville cemetery.


SUSAN RAMDIAL, right, holds up her grieving mother Rukmin Ramdial during the funeralof her three-yearold sister Roshni in Charlieville yesterday. The child was beaten to death overthe weekend.
picture
Roshni Ramdial

picture of suspect

‘Balo’ Maharaj killing


Soldiers among four extradited to Washington


BY FRANCIS JOSEPH


Two soldiers and two civilians were extradited to Washington, DC, yesterday, to face trial in the death of US war veteran, Trinidad born Balram “Balo” Maharaj.

They were flown to the US in a special operation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the local branch of Interpol.

So secretive was the operation that not even attorney Keith Scotland was aware that his client was “in the air.”

Scotland told the T&T Guardian that he was on his way to have Cpl Ricardo de Four sign documents so he could file a judicial review application in the Port-of-Spain High Court yesterday.

Scotland said he was informed that de Four was not in the prison. Sometime later, he was informed that de Four was one of the four men extradited to the US.

Scotland went before Justice Nolan Bereaux and was able to get a stay of the extradition at 1 pm. But by that time, de Four was about to land at Miami International Airport.

The matter before Bereaux comes up for hearing again today.

The four were taken from Golden Grove State Prison yesterday and whisked off to Piarco International Airport, from where they were flown out to the US on two different flights.

Not one of the men was able to see any relatives before the extradition.

Sgt Leon Nurse and de Four were accompanied by six FBI agents aboard an American Airlines flight at 9.35 am, while Zion Clarke and Kevon Demerieux went courtesy a special FBI flight, shortly before 5 pm.

The local Court of Appeal had granted the four men a stay of their extradition until August 1 to file an appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

When no appeal was filed in London, preparations were made to bring in the FBI on Sunday to have the wanted men flown to Washington.

Nurse and de Four were taken to Piarco at 6.30 am to await their flight, AA 1662, which was scheduled to depart at 9.05 am.

Within half-an-hour, the FBI agents arrived at the airport, along with the local investigator, Sgt Wendell Lucas.

For some reason, the flight was delayed for half-an-hour. Shortly after 3 pm, a special FBI jet, with another group of agents, landed at Piarco and took off later with Clarke and Demerieux.

All four are expected to appear before Judge John Bates in the US Federal Court in Washington today.


Defence Force soldier Sgt Leon Nurse, centre, is escorted by an FBI officer, left, and another law officer to the American Airlines aircraft yesterday.


Army Cpl Ricardo De Four, right, makes his way to the aircraft during extradition proceedings at Piarco International Airport yesterday.
PHOTOS FRANCIS JOSEPH

Case facts


On October 2, 2006, Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls, presiding in Port-of-Spain Eighth Court, ordered that Clarke, de Four, Nurse, and Demerieux be extradited.

The four are among a number of persons wanted in Washington, DC, for taking hostage.

Seven persons are already in Washington awaiting trial: Jason Percival, Russell “Saucy” Joseph, Winston Gittens, Kevin Nixon, Anderson Straker, Christoper Sealey, and Wayne Pierre.

An eighth person, David Suchit was also extradited. The jury found him not guilty and he was deported to Trinidad.

Maharaj, 62, a Trinidadian, was kidnapped outside the Samaan Tree Bar in Aranguez, San Juan, on April 5, 2005. A ransom of $3 million was demanded. No money was paid and Maharaj was never seen alive again.

On January 8, 2006, his dismembered body was found in two containers in the Santa Cruz forest.

As a result, 11 persons, including Maharaj’s former common-law wife, Doreen Alexander-Durity, were arrested and charged and committed to stand trial at the Assizes.

Attorney surprised

Attorney Keith Scotland says he is surprised that the State went ahead and extradited his client, Cpl Ricardo de Four.

Scotland said yesterday that he wrote a letter dated July 8 to Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George, explaining that his client should be tried by a jury of his peers in Trinidad, and that he should not be extradited to the US to face trial.

Scotland pointed out that the alleged offences were committed in Trinidad and not in the US.

He said his client would not have the opportunity to have his relatives present in the US during the trial.

He said he never got a reply until yesterday morning. But it was already late, as de Four and Sgt Leon Nurse, were on board an American Airlines flight to Miami.

AG: Easier to try case in US

Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George, by letter dated August 4, said the majority of the accused in the Balram “Balo” Maharaj case were in the US, and it would be easier to have the trial there.

She said the FBI played an extensive role in breaking the case, using their DNA experts. She said the US Attorney’s Office was ready to go to trial and she understood that the judge was waiting on de Four and the others to start the trial.

Annisette George pointed out that in T&T, the accused could face the death penalty, while the US Government has given the assurance that they would not face the death penalty.

The AG said she had spoken with the DPP and he had given her the undertaking that as soon as the accused entered a plea agreement in the US, the DPP would discontinue the charges in Trinidad.



©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

Alleged groper gets boot Thu, August 7, 2008


By TONY BLAIS, COURT BUREAU (Edmonton Sun)



Fort McMurray pilot charged with grabbing waitress's breast extradited for trial


Alberta's highest court has ordered a Fort McMurray pilot accused of grabbing the breast of a waitress at a hotel bar in Trinidad and Tobago to be extradited.

In a written decision released yesterday, the Court of Appeal of Alberta overturned an earlier decision dismissing the Caribbean nation's application for Graham Davis, 45, to be extradited there to face trial for indecent assault.

Two of the three judges on the appeal panel ruled the lower court judge had erred when he dismissed the extradition request based on the Crown not proving it would have proceeded by indictment if the case was heard here.

Extraditions from Canada are only permitted when the offence is liable to a punishment of at least two years.

The Canadian authorities determined the corresponding charge for Davis in Canada would be sexual assault.

However, while someone convicted of sexual assault in Canada where the Crown proceeds by indictment could face a maximum punishment of 10 years, the maximum punishment where the Crown proceeds by the less serious summary conviction is only 18 months.

The appeal panel majority ruled it is not up to an extradition judge to determine how an offence would be prosecuted in Canada or to require the Crown to prove whether it would have been by indictment or summary conviction.

The third judge on the panel dissented, saying the initial judge was right to dismiss the extradition request due to the Crown not proving it would have gone by indictment.

The same judge also said no Canadian judge has imposed a sentence of two years or more for the type of conduct Davis is accused of, even if prosecuted by indictment.

At the initial hearing, court heard Davis who is the operations manager for Air Mikisew in Fort McMurray had been in Trinidad and Tobago for about a week on business at the time of the alleged Dec. 12, 2003, assault.

According to a record of the case provided by authorities in Trinidad, Leisa Lutchman, then 31, was working as a waitress at the Carnival Bar at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel.

A shocked Lutchman told police a man sitting at the bar had got up and approached her as she was passing and "grabbed her left breast and squeezed it."

Fellow waitress Diana Matthias, then 25, told police she saw the alleged groping and, after making sure her co-worker was OK, confronted Davis about "why he did that."

Trinidad police Const. Russell Lezama arrested Davis at the hotel and said the pilot told him: "I am sorry."

Davis was not allowed to testify at his extradition hearing in Fort McMurray in December 2006, but his lawyer told the judge he would have said he knew Lutchman "on a friendly basis" from having spent several evenings at the hotel bar and "had reached up to give her a high five."

Defence lawyer Dale Knisely also told court that after Davis was arrested, he spent five days in "miserable conditions" at the Trinidad prison.

Missing US teen found



Tuesday, August 26 2008(T&T Newsday)



The 16 year old American citizen who was reported missing by relatives on Saturday night, was found at about 7 pm Sunday on High Street, San Fernando.

The teen, Felesha Subadar, was taken to the San Fernando Police Station by police officers. She confessed she was not abducted.

The girl said she went to a party with a friend, and was dropped off on High Street, San Fernando on Sunday night by her friend, so that she could get transportation to her relative’s Woodland home in La Fortune.

Subadar was resting at the home of relatives yesterday.

She is due to return to the United States on Wednesday.

Officers of the Anti Kidnapping Squad told Newsday that no charges will be laid against the minor.

Subadar disappeared at about 6.45 pm on Saturday, minutes after returning from a nearby parlour.

On Sunday morning officers of the Anti Kidnapping Squad and the San Fernando police interviewed relatives of the missing teen.

More guns for cops


By NALINEE SEELAL Friday, August 29 2008(T&T Newsday)



CRIMINALS beware. The police service is arming itself with sophisticated equipment to tackle crime in a more modern and holistic manner. And one of the pieces of equipment already in the hands of lawmen is the sophisticated M&P9 pistol.

Police sources confirmed the purchase of 1,500 M&P pistols of 9 mm calibre. The guns arrived last week Thursday and were taken to the armory in St James for distribution to officers of the various task forces, the Guard and Emergency Branch and other units in the TT Police Service.

Long before the guns arrived, training was carried out at the St James training college.

Training in the use of firearms, which can take two to three days, is mandatory for every serving officer of the Service.

Officers of the police service are trained in the use of M&P 5 pistols, .38 revolvers, 380 pistols, the mini UZI, SLRs (Self-Loading Rifles) and shotguns.

Officers have been clamouring for a replacement of the standard .38 revolver after it was discovered that the chamber in the revolver easily corrodes which can lead to malfunction. Officers said such malfunctions could mean the difference between life and death.

Police sources said the standard rule of a policeman being duty bound to clean his weapon before handing it over to the person in charge of the weapons store at all police stations, will apply with the new M&P9 pistols.

Newsday learned that the M&P 9 pistols were selected after a testing process that included a variety of competing firearms. The M&P 9 pistols excelled in key areas including enhanced performance, ability to tailor the grip size to meet each officer’s preference through three interchangeable palm swell grip straps, and ambidextrous operating controls, all which proved advantageous to officers.

In addition, the pistol’s stainless steel barrel and slide with melonite (a wear resis-tant substance) finish was an ideal choice for the tropical environment.

Yesterday, acting Police Commissioner James Philbert had no comment to make on the purchase of weapons.

However police sources said that it was noted with concern that the criminal elements are armed with far more sophisticated weapons than police and it was felt that the time had come to arm all police officers with weapons suited for the current crime wave sweeping the country.

Friday 29th August ,2008


Woman admits to fake kidnap report



BY CAMILLE CLARKE (T&T Guardian)



A Princes Town woman appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with wasteful employment of police time.

Nicole George pleaded guilty before Magistrate Brian Dabideen when she appeared in the Eleventh Court.

It was alleged that last Wednesday, George made a false report at the Princes Town Police Station that her daughter, Alexis Alexander, was kidnapped.

It was reported that George claimed that a $200,000 ransom was demanded by the alleged captors.

George told the court yesterday that there was a “story behind it,” and she had made numerous reports to the police concerning five attempts to kidnap her and her daughter, but to no avail.

She said she was beaten by a male companion in front of her children.

George said after she made a report against the male companion, a few attempts were made to kidnap her.

“I always have people coming for me and the kids,” she said.

She claimed she made up a story, pointing out that the male companion “wanted to take the children and not bring them back.”

Magistrate Dabideen told her to save it until “she was at the Princes Town court.”

George was remanded on $25,000 bail.

The matter was adjourned to September 3 and transferred to the Princes Town Magistrates’ Court.

Monday 1st September,2008


Retired cop: Sharks ate Salvary



UNSOLVED MYSTERIES


By Francis Joseph(Trinidad Guardian)



A former head of the Police Marine Branch feels that PC Phillip Salvary, 24, was eaten by sharks in the Gulf of Paria on February 24, 1987.

Retired Supt Amilius Marrain, now an Archbishop of the Spiritual Baptist faith, spoke out for the first time on Saturday about the events surrounding the disappearance of PC Salvary during a “buy and bust” operation involving the Narcotic Squad and two Venezuelans.

Marrain gave evidence during a commission of inquiry appointed by then acting President Michael Williams to investigate the circumstances surrounding the events at La Tinta Bay, Chacachacare.

“This matter has been worrying me for the past 21 years,” Marrain told the T&T Guardian.

“Because of the dangerous waters out there, I believe that Salvary either drowned or was eaten by sharks. I believe the latter, because when I went out there that night, I saw a lot of sharks circling our boats. There was no way that Salvary could have survived that.”

Marrain, who retired in 1991, said he remembered someone from the Narcotics Squad asking him for a police boat to go on the operation.

“I told that person that we had no pirogue type boats at Small Boats. All we had were the big boats and I told them that these boats would have given away the undercover nature of the operation. That was the end of that. I warned them though, that they should not go down there without experience. I know the waters down there were very rough and inexperience could cost you dearly.

“I told them not to go there without someone from the Marine Branch. I thought that was the end of that matter.”

Marrain, now the vice president of the IRO, said while he was on his way home at 8 pm that day, he received a call that a mishap took place in the Gulf of Paria and there was an emergency.

“I despatched the police launch, Dotterel, to assist. I returned to Small Boats and went out in the Sea Hawk.

“When I went out there, there were policemen in the water holding on gas tanks. They were trembling, they were frightened. They were suffering from burns, we took them to the hospital.

“I remember one of them being Constable Roger Black. One of policemen said they left Salvary in the water holding on to a gas tank. I did not expect him to survive because there were a lot of sharks circling our boat.”

Marrain said there was no one in the Narcotic Squad at the time who was qualified to be a boat captain and control the vessel in which Salvary and others were travelling.

“I made it quite clear that they must not go on this operation without experienced personnel. Also, it was also wrong for one of the policemen to have piloted that pirogue that evening with his colleagues.”

Marrain said when he received the distress call, he immediately contacted then acting Commissioner Clive Sealey.

“We searched the Gulf for one week before it was called off. The day after Salvary disappeared, we found the pirogue floating bow up in the water. I don’t think there was anything suspicious in Salvary’s disappearance. It was just incompetence on the part of the policemen,” he added.

It not long after the Salvary incident that the Police Marine Branch was closed and all the vessels were handed over to the Coast Guard.

The acquittal of Venezuelans Henry Ramos and Luis Britto sparked controversy which eventually led to acting President Michael Williams appointing a commission of inquiry to inquire into the events at La Tinta Bay.

One of the persons who was instrumental in a commission of inquiry being appointed, was former Narcotics Squad officer, Roger Black.

During the wee hours of July 26, 1989, I went to Blanchisseuse with then editor Carl Jacobs, photographer Noel Saldenha, and attorney Vernon De Lima, to first locate, and then interview Black.

Hesitant at first

He was hesitant at first, but then agreed and his story propelled then Minister of National Security, Selwyn Richardson, to appoint a Commission, comprising attorney Frank Solomon, Dr Peter Lewis, and Lt Cmdr Laurie Goldstraw.

Black left the police service after the events at La Tinta Bay. He had spent 15 years in the service. He remembered the day when Salvary disappeared.

Black said it was Cpl Hugh Bernard who led a party of three officers to La Tinta Bay on February 24, 1987. The other two were Black and Salvary.

He added: “We were posing as drug traffickers. We were the ones who would be buying the cocaine from the Venezuelans. We were not on the operation to make the arrests.

“In fact, we were supposed to be arrested by the others waiting on the beach.”

They all carried firearms. He said Bernard hired boat owner, former soldier Lincoln ‘Jack Benny’ Charles at Alcan, Chaguaramas, to take them on the operation. They were acting on a tip off given to the squad by a Santo Domingo man who lived in Venezuela and visited Trinidad often. Two policemen had been to a Port-of-Spain hotel to see this informant.

In choppy seas in the middle of the Gran Boca, the police met Britto and Ramos. The Venezuelans asked for “dinero, dinero” and Bernard opened the briefcase and showed them the money. To impress the “sellers”, Bernard carried a scale with him.

Black said the Venezuelans showed the cocaine which was wrapped in foil and plastic. Although the Venezuelans wanted to seal the deal at sea, Bernard took them to La Tinta Bay, Black added. On the way to La Tinta, Britto and Ramos started to count the money, as the price of the six and a half kilos was supposed to be $200,000.

Black said they did not finish counting the money as they were greeted by a hail of gunfire from another Narcotic Squad party who had been hiding in bushes on the La Tinta beach. Black said the Narcotic Squad party took away the guns from the three undercover officers who went to make “the buy.”

He remembered that the two Venezuelans, the three undercover officers, and the boat owner were handcuffed.

“Then they started to beat the five of us. It was real licks, licks like peas. I got mad. It was mostly licks. They made us lie down on our faces and they kicked and stomped on us. We could have died. Salvary was injured because he was frail,” Black said.

He said it seemed that the “buyers” had to be beaten along with the “sellers” so the Venezuelans could not claim entrapment or that they were held in a sting operation. Black said he did not bargain for that type of licks. He said after the beating, Salvary kept saying he was feeling weak.

Seven policemen went into the Venezuelans’ boat with the seized cocaine.

Black added, “The sea got rough and the boat went under. Then it bobbed up again. Three of the officers, who were non swimmers, held on to the bow. While in the water, I heard Salvary saying he was feeling weak. He said that was caused by the lashes he received.”

Black said he decided to swim back to Chacachacare to see if he could get help. When he left, he said one of the policemen had the cocaine and the money. Around midnight, Black said he was taken off the island by the police launch, Dotterel. He spent two weeks at the hospital suffering from burns which he got from the aviation fuel which the Venezuelans were using and which spilled into the sea.

The ex-policeman said none of his superiors visited him in hospital. When he suggested that the Venezuelans be released because the cocaine had been lost, he was told they had to “face the music” because they were guilty.

Black said the small bit of cocaine that was produced in court came from “small rocks” the squad had seized previously.

“When I heard what was said in court, I had to laugh,” he added.

He said the original deposition he had given for the purpose of the coroner’s inquest, was retrieved by an officer of the squad because he had mentioned about the money they had taken on the “buy and bust” operation.

“I was told I couldn’t say anything about that,” Black declared.

In July 1987, Coroner Kamal Deane ruled that Salvary had drowned in the Gulf of Paria and that no one was responsible for his death. Deane said Salvary’s death was accidental and therefore, no person was guilty of a criminal offence.



©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

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