Two charged with gang support and child trafficking

Two men were charged on Thursday with supporting a gang and a series of child trafficking offences.

Andrew George and Matthew Ross, who appeared before senior Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court in a virtual hearing, were placed on bail.

The Special Investigations Task Force detained them on Monday. Police said while they were attempting to make another arrest at Jamadar Street, San Fernando, a third suspect in the investigation was shot.

The suspect, Damian Scoon, later died at the San Fernando General Hospital. He was wanted on charges of being a gang leader, trafficking children and sexual penetration of a child.

Reports said the men were being investigated since October last year after police rescued a 15-year-old Venezuelan girl.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC instructed that George and Ross be charged under the Trafficking in Persons Act, Anti-Gang Act and Children’s Act.

George was placed on $1 million bail or a cash alternative of $100,000 and ordered to report on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to the San Fernando police station before midnight. He was also ordered to surrender his passport.

Charges against him included receiving a financial benefit from a child contrary to section 26 of the Trafficking in Persons Act, trafficking children contrary to section 18 (1) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10, supporting a gang contrary to section 9 (d) of the Anti-Gang Act 1 of 2018, sexual penetration of a child contrary to section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10, trafficking children contrary to section 18 (1) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10 and supporting a gang contrary to section 9 (d) of the Anti-Gang Act 1 of 2018.

Ross was placed on $500,000 bail or a cash alternative of $50,000 and ordered to report on Mondays and Thursdays between 6 am and 6 pm at the Freeport Police Station.

Charges against Ross include supporting a gang contrary to section 9 (d) of the Anti-Gang Act 1 of 2018 and trafficking children contrary to section 18 (1) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 12:10.

Both matters were adjourned to November 5.

The exercise was headed by acting deputy commissioner of police, investigations and intelligence McDonald Jacob and done by various units of the police service.