TWO police officers attached to the South-Western Division (SWD) Safe Zone Unit have been charged for bribing a businessman.
PC Andy Sagar, 39, and PC Nick Travis Manick, 25, were jointly charged with six counts of misbehaviour in public office to wit corruptly soliciting and receiving monies contrary to common law, when they appeared before JP Kawal Babootee, on Thursday.
They were granted bail when they appeared before a Justice of the Peace jointly charged with misbehaviour in public office.
Manick faced an additional similar charge.
Manick was granted bail with surety in the sum of $350,000 to cover all seven charges, while Sagar was granted bail with surety in the sum of $300,000 to cover all six charges.
They are to appear at the Point Fortin Magistrates’ Court on June 1, 2022.
It is alleged that during the period December 31, 2021, and March 27, 2022, a businessman was approached by two police officers attached to the SWD Safe Zone Unit, who solicited and received $12,000 in cash as bribes for forbearing to act as police officers in the investigation and detection of a criminal offence.
It is also alleged that one of the officers further solicited and received the sum of TT$1,500.
A report of the incidents was made and officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) launched an investigation, spearheaded by Snr Supt Suzette Martin, coordinated by Supt Montrichard and supervised by Insp Narine.
The accused were arrested by PSB officers on March 26, 2022. Charges were laid by Sgt Williams on Thursday, following advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, on that same date.
