'The Resistance' will not be sent to St Ann's, gets $200,000 bail

A 27-year-old unemployed man who goes by the nickname "The Resistance" will not be sent to St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital for evaluation, as he has been deemed to be “of sound mind” by a Port of Spain magistrate.

Jean Paul Cooper, 27, of Turquoise Drive, Diamond Vale, appeared before magistrate Indar Jagroo on Friday when his attorney, Ian Brooks, made an application for his client to be sent to the psychiatric hospital for observation.

After questioning Cooper, the magistrate said there was no need to send him to St Ann’s.

He also granted him $200,000 bail. Cooper’s father was approved as surety for bail.

Cooper was charged with maliciously starting a fire at the Ministry of Health at the corner of Park and Edward Street, Port of Spain, on August 8.

Reports said firefighters received a report around 1.30 pm of a fire in the basement of the CHIC Building, which houses the Ministry of Health.

A man was seen running away. When firefighters responded they saw a message on the wall saying: "Covid-19 is all about the new world order. Stop it now #The Resistance."

In a release on Thursday, the police said Cooper was arrested on September 14, and charged after advice from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC.

Cooper will return to court on October 13.

Insp Wayne Mohammed and Sgt Azard Ali appeared for the police.