[UPDATED] Cops in court for murder, kidnapping

TWO police officers have appeared before a High Court master charged with the murder and kidnapping for ransom of Central used-car dealer Sachel Kungebeharry.

Acting Cpl Ashraf Mohammed, 45, of Ramgoolie Trace North, Chin Chin, and Jason Dan Michael, 34, of Francis Lalla Road, Charlieville, appeared before Master Magaret Sookraj-Goswami on October 11.

The murder charge against them alleges that the two, along with someone unknown, murdered Sachel “Pablo” Kungebeharry on a day unknown between September 24 and October 4.

The second charge alleges they misbehaved in public office in the kidnapping for ransom of Kungebeharry at Jerningham Railway Road, Endeavour, Chaguanas, on September 25.

They have been remanded into custody unless their attorneys make a bail application.

They were charged by acting Sgt Lawrence Joefield of the Professional Standards Bureau.

Neither officer was permitted to plead since the charges against them are indictable. They were given notice they had 28 days to file an alibi notice and the master did a verification exercise on the two, who appeared before her virtually from the Besson Street police station, Port of Spain.

Joefiled told the master only preliminary disclosure had been made to the defence, and the police had 32 statements in hand with 15 outstanding from its 40 witnesses. He also said the police evidence, apart from the statements, also included photographs, CCTV footage and search warrants.

Sookraj-Goswami directed the police to submit their file to the Director of Public Prosecution by December 18 so an indictment could be filed by March 27, 2025.

She also gave directions for the prosecution and defence to file evidence, including evidential objections, before a status hearing on October 29, 2025.

A sufficiency hearing has been set for November 7, 2025, and Sookraj-Goswami advised both sides to abide by the timeframes or file applications for extensions before the sufficiency hearing.

Attorneys Shiva Boodoo and Roshni Balkaran represented the two.

Boodoo asked about a cell phone taken from Mohammed’s wife and a car taken from Michael’s home. He was told the items would be returned after police received the results of tests on them.

The two, who were said to have been assigned to the Caroni police station, were charged on October 11, after officers received advice from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC.

On October 8, a third suspect also held in connection with Kungebeharry’s abduction and murder, was released on the advice of the DPP’s office.

Kungebeharry, 32, of Pierre Road, Felicity was kidnapped on September 25, after a marked police car with flashing blue lights intercepted the car he was in at Endeavour Road Extension, Chaguanas at around 5 pm.

He was bundled into the police vehicle by three men, two of whom were dressed in what appeared to be police tactical uniforms.

They reportedly searched Kungebeharry and told him they had a warrant for his arrest. The two other men were left unharmed.

On September 29, the family paid $500,000, which was dropped off at a location in Las Lomas, but he was not released.

The police car used in the kidnapping – which allegedly had false licence plates – was seized from the Caroni Police Station on October 1, police said.

On October 3, police found Kungebeharry's body in the Longdenville district. He was identified by his fingerprints the next day. His body bore chop wounds to the neck and head and stab wounds to the back.

In a release late on October 4, CoP Erla Harewood-Christopher said police officers who commit criminal acts will be booted out of the service and face the full brunt of the law. She said such incidents "threaten to erode the public's trust" in the police.

She said, “We regret the alleged involvement of law enforcement officers, sworn to promote law and order, in the commission of this heinous act.

“We continue to be challenged with the presence of errant officers amongst the ranks of the TTPS.

“And while we are all deeply concerned with these incidents, I ask that we allow the investigations to proceed without interference and avoid any premature conclusions.

“I am very conscious that this incident goes against every principle of the TTPS and threatens to erode the public’s trust in the TTPS.

"As such, we are determined to address all incidents of breach of duty or misconduct by any officer with unwavering impartiality, meticulous scrutiny, and swift action.

“On this occasion, I again give the assurance that we are resolute in our commitment to rid the service of these elements.

“Wherever we find officers who have sworn to protect and serve, betraying the trust of the citizenry and unfaithful to their oath of office, we will ensure that they are removed from office and face the full brunt of the law.”

This story was originally published with the title 2 cops in court for Central businessman's murder, kidnapping and has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

TWO police officers have appeared before a High Court master charged with the murder and kidnapping for ransom of Central used-car dealer Sachel Kungebeharry.

Acting Cpl Ashraph Mohammed, 45, and Jason Dan Michael, 34, appeared before Master Magaret Sookraj-Goswami on October 11.

Sookraj-Goswami read the two charges to the two, but they were not allowed to plead, since they were charged indictably.

They are represented by attorneys Shiva Boodoo and Roshni Balkaran.

They are alleged to have murdered Kungebeharry sometime between September 24 and October 4, 2024, along with an unknown person, and misbehaviour in public office in the kidnapping for ransom.

Both men appeared via a virtual court link from the Besson Street police station.

They were charged by acting Sgt Lawrence Joefield of the Professional Standards Bureau. Joefield said there are 40 witnesses for the State and so far 32 statements have been sworn to, while another 15 are outstanding from police officers involved in the investigation.

A sufficiency hearing has been set for November 7, 2025.

The police have until December 18 to submit their file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for an indictment to be filed by March 27, 2025.

Both officers were remanded into the custody of the prison.

On October 8, a third suspect held in connection with Kungebeharry’s abduction and murder was released.

Kungebeharry, 32, of Pierre Road, Felicity, was kidnapped on September 25, after a marked police car intercepted the car he was in at Endeavour Road Extension, Chaguanas.

Kungebeharry was taken away by two men dressed in what appeared to be police tactical uniforms, and a ransom demand was later made for his safe release.

On September 29, the family paid $500,000, but he was not released.

The police car used in the kidnapping was seized from the Caroni Police Station on October 1, police said.

On October 3, police found Kungebeharry's body in the Longdenville district.

In a release late on October 4, CoP Erla Harewood-Christopher said police officers who commit criminal acts will be booted out of the service and face the full brunt of the law. She said such incidents "threaten to erode the public's trust" in the police.