Cops get bail on misbehaviour charges

TWO police officers have been granted bail by a Port of Spain magistrate on charges of misbehaviour in office.

Acting Cpl Anthony Seebaran, 45, of Victory Heights, Arima Old Road, and SRP Lester Jones, 37, of Pelican Ext, Morvant, appeared before First Court magistrate Marissa Gomez, where it is alleged they misbehaved on May 22, 2018, by receiving US$1,800 and $150 from a man in Morvant, while responding to a report of a disturbance at a house in the district.

The two were stationed at the Morvant police station.

Seebaran, who has 21 years’ service, was granted $80,000 bail on two charges while Jones, with six years’ service as an SRP, was granted $60,000 bail on a single charge.

Attorneys for both men asked for lenient bail to be granted and said they would be willing to accept conditions as neither had previous convictions.

Jones’ lawyer said only two weeks ago he got an award for good service.

Police prosecutor Rajesh Lall had no objections to bail but asked that both men provide a surety, surrender their passports, report to the police station where they live and make no contact with the man they allegedly received the money from.

Since both men’s passports have expired, they were ordered not to re-apply for one or any travel documents, report to the Arima and Morvant police stations and stay away from the victim and any witness in the case. Seebaran’s sister and Jones’ wife will stand as surety.

A summary of the evidence against them was disclosed by the police to their lawyers and they were told to return to court on March 29.

Both men were charged by Sgt Greer Britton-Lawrence of the Professional Standards Bureau which investigated a report they received. The two were arrested on Monday.