Bail for cop charged with losing gun

A POLICE constable has been granted $30,000 surety bail after being charged with the negligent loss of his service gun, which police allegedly found in his car near a bar he had gone to.

The policeman, 26, a member of the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit (OCIU) in Port of Spain, appeared before a Couva magistrate today and pleaded not guilty.

His 32-year-old cousin, who was charged with having the gun, appeared before the same magistrate and he too pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that both offences happened on February 16 at Couva, where the policeman went to the bar and his cousin was in the car.

Attorney Terry Boyer represented the policeman, who, he said has five years’ service,a fixed address, and no previous convictions or pending matters. He complained about the length of time his client spent without charge, telling the court his client spent 120 hours in custody before being charged by the Professional Standards Bureau.

Attorney Taradath Singh represented the cousin.

The magistrate granted a cash alternative of $10,000 to the accused policeman and granted $85,000 bail to be approved by a clerk of the peace.