Police officer, accomplice charged with $680,000 Rattans robbery

A POLICEMAN and another man have been charged with robbery at a discount clothing and apparel store. It was reported that at 6.15 pm on October 3, the courier of Rattans was stopped by two men dressed in police uniform during a roadblock on the Western Main Road in Cocorite near Paragon Sports Club.

The courier reported that a marked police vehicle was present during the "roadblock." The victim was told to get out of the vehicle and was tied up by one of the "officers," who then stole cash and other valuables: a a cellphone valued at $1,500; US$120 and $1,200 belonging to the courier and $677,277 and US$1,500,belonging to Rattans.

After the robbery, one of the bandits drove off in a vehicle which had the word "POLICE" on it while the other ran through some bushes nearby and escaped.

The victim freed himself and reported the matter to the Four Roads Police Station. Officers assigned to the Western Division CID led by Insp Grant, the Western Division Gang Intelligence Unit, and the Western Division Operations Centre investigated and later held both men ,one of whom is a member of the police. Following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) the two were charged.