Ex-policeman threatens lawsuit

A former police inspector who won a court matter against acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip in 2016, yesterday threatened to file for judicial review against the Police Service Commission (PSC) if government accepts Phillip’s nomination. Last week Thursday, the PSC submitted Phillip’s name alongside acting DCP Deodat Dulalchan as its nominees for the posts of DCP.

Harridath Maharaj, who was charged in 2004 by Phillip for felling trees without a permit, won his matter in 2016 before Justice Frank Seepersad. In the ruling, Seepersad described Phillip’s actions as “reckless”.

Despite the ruling against him, the PSC allowed Phillip to act as Commissioner of Police last year and he continues to act whenever acting CoP Stephen Williams is away from duty.

Yesterday, Maharaj called on government to take into consideration Justice Seepersad’s scathing comments and called on the House of Representatives not to accept Phillip’s nomination. Maharaj said he found it strange that even after the courts ruled against Phillip, the PSC, the Police Complaints Authority, the Police Complaints Division and acting CoP Williams did not see fit to launch an investigation into Phillip’s conduct as condemned by Justice Seepersad.

PCA chairman David West said he had signed a confidentiality clause and as such could not comment on whether or not the authority was or had ever investigated Phillip in light of the court’s ruling and Justice Seepersad’s comments. Maharaj said it is the norm that when any matter is reported in the media against any police officer, the Police Complaints Division, the Police Complaints Authority and the acting CoP initiates an investigation.

He said when he learnt that Phillip was one of the PSC’s nominees for Deputy Commissioner, he was flabbergasted. Although Maharaj won his case, the State appealed the judgement, which paved the way for Phillip to act as Commissioner in Williams’ absence.