Police and soldiers who force fed rum to homeless to be charged

CHARGES of assault are expected to be laid against two police officers and two soldiers who allegedly made two homeless men drink alcohol during a patrol in March.

Speaking at the police weekly media briefing on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Griffith said the matter was handed over to the office of the DPP for review and advice.

Commenting further on the topic was acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob who said the two police officers have already been charged with breaching police codes and are to be placed before a tribunal in the near future.

Jacob said there will be various charges, ranging from assault to misbehaviour in public office, which will be brought against the men adding that the investigation should come to a closure at the end of this week. The two police officers are currently on suspension, Newsday was told.

The internal tribunal is expected to start within a few months, Jacob said, as their impending court matter will take precedence. The officers have been charged internally with discreditable conduct.

Speaking on the issue of police officers breaking the law, Griffith said while he is the first to defend his officers, he will also be the first to rid the service of those charged with serious offences. He reiterated that his attempts to do so were being foiled by the police service’s Social and Welfare Association.

On March 30, a video surfaced on social media showing a homeless man, identified as Moses Phillip, being made to drink alcohol by soldiers while police officers sat and watched at the front of a police vehicle. A short while later, the soldiers ordered him to do push-ups and run while the police chased him in the car.

Malcolm Salvary, who was not recorded in the video, also claimed he was made to drink the alcohol and perform for the lawmen. Both men are now in the process of suing the State. In the video recording, a third man, who was not identified, was forced to consume alcohol.