By Sue-Ann Wayow
LEGAL action will be taken against the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) which cannot account for 500 bullets missing from their possession as this is another national crisis.
Opposition Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal said the TTPS was in contempt of a court order and need to explain where the ammunition went.
Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher has ordered an investigation into the missing ammunition that was seized by the TTPS from a legal firearms dealer last year October.
Moonilal said this was a dangerous and alarming situation as 500 missing bullets could potentially mean 500 deaths and 500 shootings.
Speaking at the Opposition’s press briefing on Sunday Dr Moonilal said when the officers took the ammunition for “safekeeping” and for their books inspection, it was listed exactly how many were taken which were some 1130 rounds of 9mm ammunition as well as weapons.
But one month later when attorneys representing the company wrote the police and enquired about the seized ammunition and weapons and when it could be returned, there was no response.
Filing for judicial review in December, Dr Moonilal said an injunction was heard on January 24, 2023.
The police were ordered to return the ammunition and weapons to the company by Justice Devendra Rampersad but only 630 rounds of the 9mm ammunition were returned , which left 500 rounds missing.
Hinting at the file from the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman case that went missing from the Solicitor General Office, Dr Moonilal said, “500 rounds of ammunition not returned, pursuant to a court order. It becomes now more of a mystery. In this country, as you know, we have had a disease of missing file. Now we have a disease of missing ammunition.”
He said, “The police have not sought to amend the Order or vary the Order which means the Order still stands. If that stands, that means the police is in contempt of the court.”
Based on communication with the company, police initially said they could not find the missing ammunition but afterwards stated they could have miscalculated how many were seized, Dr Moonilal said.
“Now what happen? The police have to go back to SEA classes to try and get mathematics correct? How could you miscalculate 500 rounds of ammunition? Five hundred rounds of ammunition cannot be found and this is a national crisis upon us again and Mrs Harewood-Christopher needs to get cracking to investigate this. Now please don’t call retired justice Stanley John to investigate this now,” added Moonilal.
Dr Moonilal continued, “And if it is not missing, then return it today, as you ought to have returned it before, because there is another court matter coming as early as tomorrow to get a contempt of court order that the police has to get this ammunition otherwise they are in contempt of court.”
The MP also said that Government wanted to give more law enforcement officers guns and ammunition at a time when they could not account for what they already have.
