SEVEN police officers accused of extorting businessmen in Sangre Grande have been discharged by a High Court master due to prosecution delays.
The officers—Insp Deyal Ramlakhan, acting Cpl Shaheed Khan, PC Davanan Ragbir, PC Jason Osouna, PC Macai Joseph, PC Cleon Smith, and PC Reyon Charles—were facing charges of misbehaviour in public office and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Master Sarah De Silva made the decision after the prosecution failed twice to comply with court directions. The charges were not dismissed, meaning they could be re-laid in the future.
During the virtual hearing, no officers from the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB), who laid the charges, appeared in court. Initially, there was also no police prosecutor present. This left the master without confirmation of whether the case file had been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Eventually, police prosecutor Cpl Bayne joined the session but was unable to provide updates, as he was only filling in for the assigned prosecutor. Previously, on November 1, the master had instructed that the file be submitted to the DPP by November 8, with evidence disclosure to the accused by November 15. However, the lack of progress led to the officers’ discharge.
Master De Silva criticised the State’s lack of urgency, noting the 18-month delay since the charges were filed.
The officers were represented by attorneys Pamela Elder, SC, Russell Warner, Peter Carter, Fareed Ali, Sherry Singh, Terry Boyer, Ulric Skerritt and Seanna Baboolal
