Bail for policeman on 9 charges

A 41-year-old police officer facing multiple charges stemming from three separate matters appeared in court on July 6.

A police press release said Kurt Sorzano appeared in the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court charged with common assault, discharging a firearm within 40 metres of a road, transferring a firearm and transferring ammunition.

Magistrate Cheron Raphael granted him $375,000 bail with a surety or cash alternative bail of $15,000. He was also ordered to stay 100 metres away from the victim and is to have no contact with that person. The case was adjourned to August 3.

According to a police report, at about 10 pm on February 25, a woman was with a man at Manzanilla beach when he pulled a gun from a holster on his waist, pointed it towards the beach and fired.

He then pointed it at a nearby coconut tree and fired. The man then gave the gun to the woman and made her fire several shots.

The release also said Sorzano appeared in the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, rape and false imprisonment.

Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes granted him $115,000 bail with a surety. The case was adjourned to September 22.

Police reported that around 7 pm on February 4, a woman packed her personal items and tried to leave a man’s home, but he chased her while she was heading to her vehicle. He physically assaulted her and told her to return to the house.

He then went through her phone, beat her on the face and made her unpack. Sometime later, he raped her.

Sorzano was also granted bail with a surety of $115,000 when he appeared a second time before Ramoo-Haynes charged with common assault and causing grievous bodily harm. This case was adjourned to September 22.

These charges stemmed from an incident on January 1, 2021, when a woman went to a man’s home a bit late after having been invited. The man became angry, pointed his gun at her and threatened to kill her.

Also around 4.30 pm on June 17, the woman and man were seated in his vehicle outside her home, when they had an argument. The man choked the woman until she blacked out, slapped her across the face and threatened to kill her if he ever saw her with any other men.

Investigations into these matters were supervised by Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne, acting ASP Christopher Aroon, InspStanley and acting Sgt Edwards.