[UPDATED] Charges re-laid against officers in collapsed extortion case - 7 cops face court again

EIGHT days after a case against seven police officers accused of extorting a group of businessmen collapsed, the seven are now facing fresh charges.

They were initially charged with misbehaviour in public office, but the case was dismissed on November 18 owing to procedural issues. Those issues are currently being investigated, with three police complainants facing disciplinary action.

A statement by the police on November 26 said the charges were re-laid after discussions with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher said, “The re-laying of these charges demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that justice is served. The TTPS (TT Police Service) will continue to work closely with the office of the DPP to ensure the proper determination of these matters.”

The officers are now expected to reappear in court to face the charges.

On November 18, High Court Master Sarah de Silva discharged the officers, who were accused of extorting a group of Sangre Grande businessmen.

She accused the police of failing to comply with court directives, including the timely preparation and prosecution of the case.

In April 2023 the officers were charged with misbehaviour in public office by corruptly appropriating money – over $100,000 – seized as an exhibit during a police exercise.

The charges were laid after the Professional Standards Bureau investigated a social media video which allegedly showed police officers seizing cash at a Sangre Grande businessplace.

The officers were also charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice by knowingly making false statements to implicate a victim in a criminal investigation involving running an illegal gaming house.

There was public outcry over the collapse of the case, with Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland, opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, former police commissioner Gary Griffith and head of the Criminal Bar Association Israel Khan all weighing in.

Many called for urgent reform in the criminal justice system and increased staff at the DPP and police legal department to prevent cases from faltering as a result of prosecutorial missteps and delays.

PCA director: Re-laying charges changes nothing

On November 22, Harewood-Christopher said she had initiated disciplinary action against the three police complainants in the case.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) also said it had initiated a probe into the collapse of the cases.

PCA director David West told Newsday the development changed nothing.

“The DPP is within the law to re-lay the charges, so due process will follow. It still doesn’t stop the disciplinary proceedings or our investigation.”

DCP Junior Benjamin defended claims on social media that the first case against the officers had collapsed because the defendants were police officers.

“It’s important to understand that we operate with instructions from the DPP.

"Therefore, once we follow those instructions, those are the things that we are guided by.

“At the end of the day, we have not lost our focus, which is to ensure law and order, and, as far as we are concerned, nobody is above the law, even police officers."

Benjamin said police would allow the law to take its course.

“We will do all that is within our power to ensure that all persons are subject to the law and that we bring all perpetrators to answer and have their day in court. That includes police officers as well.

“We did what we have to do. The matter was re-laid and they will have their day in court and the court will decide their fate.”

DCP Benjamin: Zero tolerance for corruption

Benjamin said the police were always under scrutiny and it was important for officers “operate fairly and justly” at all times.

He said the CoP was determined to reduce crime levels, including corruption in the police service.

“There must be impartiality. Part and parcel of our principles and one of the key things within the CoP’s violence-reduction plan is zero tolerance against any form of corruption. Therefore, we are going to treat that very decisively, because if we are going to be police officers, we must be police officers of integrity.

“Where persons seem to fall foul of the law, we will do our part by bringing them to justice.

“We have made an oath to serve and…where the evidence is saying one thing, we must do what we have to do in terms of ensuring that all persons who might find themselves wanting in terms of the law must be treated in a way so as to ensure integrity within the organisation.”

Benjamin added he hoped re-laying the charges had a positive effect on public confidence in the police.

“I really hope that the public would see that the police service is really one of the greatest institutions that seeks to uphold integrity. Because there is no other organisation that seeks to arrest their own more than the police.”

He added it should be seen as proof that the police would always stand up for what was right.

“Even when it was said that the police was delinquent in terms of allowing the case to fail, the CoP came out very vehemently and said she would ensure that the matter be addressed.

“So it clearly shows we are not planning on covering up anything. The police service is here to ensure that nobody is above the law and we will continue to do our job without fear or favour, malice or ill-will.

Dickson: Damned if you do, damned if you don’t!

Head of the Police Welfare Association Gideon Dickson said although the charges had been re-laid, the public should still be cautioned against making uninformed comments.

“A lot of persons commented very early when this thing occurred, and the commentary wasn’t balanced. The comments were uninformed, and that brought some undue stress to the officers, because they were labelled extortionists.”

On November 25, Dickson said the officers were examining their legal redress regarding earlier comments made about them. Dickson lamented the spotlight on the negative issues in the police service.

“More often than not the good work done by officers is not captured. That is not highlighted. We have a few officers who go against the grain and values of the service, but we also have the officers who are bringing other officers to justice.

“It’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

He added it was unrealistic to expect a police service to be a perfect organisation, as it was a microcosm of society.

“Just like TT is a good society and we have a few people creating mayhem, it’s the same thing that goes on in schools, communities, teachers, politicians and every single facet of society. You have those who try to uphold the values and a smaller number who create breaches. We have internal mechanisms, and when it goes beyond that, we bring those people to justice.”

Dickson said police would be ostracised no matter what they did.

“Every time the service gets negative publicity it impacts the image, but we have so much more positive things to portray, but that doesn’t get into the news and doesn’t sell.
“So the media can be commended for doing a good job, but to what end? It appears as if the exercise or efforts is to ostracise the TTPS, because what appears to be negative is being highlighted, but not the positive.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Charges have been re-laid against the seven officers whose case collapsed after being charged with Misbehaviour in Public Office.

A media release by the police on November 26 said the charges were re-laid after discussions with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The case was initially dismissed on November 18 owing to procedural issues and is currently under investigation.

Commissioner Erla Harewood- Christopher said, “The re-laying of these charges demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that justice is served. The TTPS (TT Police Service) will continue to work closely with the office of the DPP to ensure the proper determination of these matters.”

The officers are now expected to reappear in court to face the charges.