Cops ready to give statements

Two police constables who are assisting police with the escape of fraud accused Vicky Boodram from prison last week, have told investigators they are ready to cooperate.

The two, however, are demanding that their lawyers be present when they are interviewed and their statements are recorded. This was expected to be done last night.

The woman police constable is detained at the Belmont Police Station, while her male counterpart, who has ten years service in the TTPS, is under heavy guard at the Besson Street Police Station. Legal officers with the TTPS were also expected to witness the interviews.

The woman police constable has insisted that she knew nothing of a plan to facilitate Boodram’s escape from the Women’s Prison in Arouca, where she is on remand as she awaits her day in court for 175 fraud charges.

The male officer has reportedly confessed that he facilitated Boodram’s escape because he was in love. Police sources told Newsday they also had eye-witness evidence which was strong enough to take to the Director of Public Prosecutions to recommend that charges are laid against the two cops.

The witness is an MTS security guard at the Tunapuna Magistrates Court.

Boodram, meanwhile, is also under heavy guard by female officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force at the Barataria Police Station. She is in a cell by herself in a restricted part of the station. No visitors are being allowed in the area where she is being kept. Relatives have been bringing her food and clothing.

Senior police officers said they were not taking chances with the prisoner and although the station is equipped with cameras, everyone, including cleaners, are being closely monitored in the area where Boodram, 35, is being housed.

They said although she has been eating her means heartily, telling officers she was grateful for the home cooked meals, she wore a worried look on her face. Boodram was also expected to be interviewed last night and staff from the Tunapuna court as well as prison officers were interviewed last week.

Prisons Commissioner Gerard Wilson said yesterday his own internal investigation revealed that his officers did nothing wrong and were not guilty of any offence or dereliction of duty. Wilson has since submitted a report on Boodram’s escape to acting National Security Minister Stuart Young.