Judge orders policeman detained for helping criminals

A HIGH court judge has ordered the detention of at least one of the two police officers held over the weekend for helping criminal gangs.

Justice Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds yesterday granted an order of detention for at least one of the policemen, pursuant to section 17(5) of the Anti-Gang Act. The application was made on Sunday, and considered without a hearing.

In the order, the judge said there are reasonable grounds to believe the further detention was justified and that the police investigation was being done diligently and expeditiously.

The police were given another 11 days to detain the policeman, beginning yesterday and ending on March 8 at 11.40 am. It was not certain if a similar order was granted for the other policeman in custody, or a third who was also held on Sunday.

They were detained on Friday by officers of the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit (OCIU) at the Arouca police station after they returned from court. Their lockers were also reportedly searched, their cell phone seized and their homes searched. Four lawyers are also being investigated by police.