By Sue-Ann Wayow
A 22-YEAR-OLD soldier is one of the men charged with stealing a Galil assault rifle and one magazine from the army.
Following advice from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, Private Renaldo Wanza, was charged with two counts of misbehaviour in public office, one count to wit the larceny of the Galil Assault Rifle and the other count to wit the subsequent transfer of same, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition.
Gaspard also advised that Brandon Moonsammy, 30, of Macoya Settlement, Tunapuna, be charged jointly with Wanza for misbehaviour in public office to wit transferring a firearm and receiving the Galil Assault Rifle knowing it to be stolen.
The firearm was reported missing from the Pioneer Department of the Teteron Army Barracks, Chaguaramas last Sunday.
According to police investigators, the Western Division Criminal Investigations Department and officers of the Western Division Gang and Intelligence Unit, conducted enquiries and acting on information received on June 9, around 1 pm, the investigative team proceeded to Golf Course Road, Chaguaramas in the vicinity of Bellerand Recreational Park, where one black coloured Galil Assault Rifle and one magazine containing four rounds of 5.56 ammunition were found in a black garbage bag to the side of a concrete structure.
The Western Division Crime Scene Unit was called and the rifle and ammunition were secured, upon examination of the firearm, it was found to be the reported missing Galil Assault Rifle.
On Saturday, the lead investigator and team had an audience with Gaspard who advised on the charges, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated in a media release on Sunday.
Investigations are continuing.
