A 41-YEAR-OLD police officer is facing multiple charges stemming from separate matters including alleged rape, physical assault, charges related to use of his firearm and false imprisonment.
Kurt Sorzano, appeared at the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court, last Thursday after he was charged with Common Assault, Discharging a Firearm within 40 metres of a road, Transferring a Firearm and Transferring Ammunition.
Magistrate Cheron Raphael granted him bail with a surety in the sum of $375,000, or cash alternative of $15,000. He was also ordered to stay 100 metres away from the victim and is to have no contact with her, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated in a release on Monday.
According to police reports around 10 pm on February 25, a woman was in the accused’s company at Manzanilla Beach, when he allegedly pulled a firearm from a holster on his waist, pointed it in the direction of the beach, where she heard several loud explosions.
He then allegedly pointed the firearm in the direction of a nearby coconut tree, where several loud explosions were again heard.
The man then allegedly gave the firearm to the woman and made her fire off several rounds of ammunition.
The next hearing is scheduled for 3rd August, 2023.
Charged with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, Rape, False Imprisonment
Sorzano also appeared at the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court, after he was charged with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, Rape and False Imprisonment.
Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes granted the accused bail with a surety in the sum of $115,000.
Police reports indicate that around 7 pm on February 4, a woman packed her personal items and attempted to leave a man’s home, when he allegedly chased her while on the way to her motor vehicle.
The man allegedly physically assaulted the woman, dealt her several blows about her body and instructed her to return to the house.
The man then allegedly went through her phone, dealt her another blow to her face and made her unpack.
Sometime after while in the bedroom the man allegedly had sexual intercourse with the woman against her will.
That matter was adjourned to September 22.
Common Assault
Sorzano was also granted bail with a surety in the sum of $115,000 when he appeared a second time before Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes. On this occasion the accused was charged with Common Assault and Causing Grievous Bodily Harm.
The charges stem from an incident on January 1, 2021, in which a woman allegedly went to a man’s home a bit late after having been invited.
The man became furious and allegedly took his firearm, pointed it in her direction and made threats to kill her.
Also, around 4.30 pm on June 17, 2023, the woman and the man were seated in his vehicle outside her home, when they got into an argument.
It is alleged that the man choked the woman until she blacked out, he also slapped her across her face. He then allegedly threatened to kill her if he saw her with any other men.
The matter was also adjourned to September 22, 2023.
Investigations into these matters were supervised by Superintendent Claire Guy-Alleyne, acting ASP Christopher Aroon, Inspector Stanley and Sgt Ag Edwards.
