2 Officers Charged for Missing Ammo
TWO police officers have been arrested and charged for similar offences.
The officers, PC Keron George and PC Hendron Kellon Moses were charged on Friday.
On Thursday, George was arrested and charged with doing an act to pervert the course of public justice to wit, submitting a false report and larceny of 15 rounds 9-millimetre ammunition.
On Friday, Moses was arrested and charged with doing an act to pervert the course of public justice to wit, submitting a false report.
They were arrested and charged based on evidence and the advice of the Director of Pubic Prosecution Roger Gaspard, SC.
Both accused secured bail – George in the sum of $150,000 and Moses in the sum of $60,000. The accused are due to answer to the charges at the Arima Magistrates’ Court.
Moses was expected to appear on Monday while George is scheduled to appear on December 17.
Police reported that approximately 8 pm on February 21, George and Moses in company with another police officer left the Arima Police Station on mobile patrol in the Arima district.
George was issued with a TTPS Galil rifle with 35 rounds 5.56 ammunition and a TTPS Sig Sauer pistol with two magazines and 30 rounds of nine-millimetre ammunition.
It was reported that while on patrol at Sorzano Street, Arima, George informed Moses and the other officer on patrol that one of his magazines had malfunctioned and all of the 15 rounds 9mm ammunition contained in that magazine had fallen out.
George then checked the rounds in the presence of the two other officers and secured the 15 rounds 9mm ammunition and the magazine on his person.
The following day at 12.40am, George returned to the Arima Police Station in company with Moses and the other police officer and reported an off-mobile patrol where it is alleged that he reported that 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition which was issued to him was lost in some bushes along Old Brazil Road, Arima, while giving chase to suspicious persons.
Acting Inspector Joseph, the duty inspector, who was present at the station conducted an initial enquiry and requested reports from George, Moses and the other police officer.
At 5.30 am the same day, George allegedly submitted a handwritten, one-page report where he stated that he had lost 15 rounds 9mm ammunition due to a faulty magazine, while giving chase to suspects along the Old Brazil Road, Arima to Joseph.
Also that same day, Moses allegedly submitted a handwritten, one-page report which stated that George had lost 15 rounds 9mm ammunition due to a faulty magazine, while giving chase to suspects along the Old Brazil Road, Arima to Joseph.
Joseph reported his findings to acting ASP Birch who caused a search to be conducted by members of the Northern Division Task Force at the alleged area of the chase along Old Brazil Road, Arima in company with the accused and the use of a metal detector, however no ammunition was found.
Joseph conducted further interviews on the morning of October 22 and questioned the two accused and recorded a statement from the other officer who was on patrol with the accused.
The officer stated that there was no chase at Old Brazil Road, Arima, only a malfunction of the magazine at Sorzano Street, Arima.
Joseph then contacted the Professional Standards Bureau and made a report and the officers were subsequently arrested and charged.
