Angus Ramsundarsingh, a former Special Reserve Police officer, is still hoping he will be reinstated into the Police Service after being exonerated of charges laid against him almost five years ago.
Ramsundarsingh, 43, a father of four of Vessigny Village and the bread winner of the house, was cleared in 2014 of six charges laid against him in 2012. But to date he is yet to be reinstated by acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams.
He was working with the Court and Process Branch at the Siparia Police Station and was a full-time SRP when he was charged by his colleagues.
However, up to yesterday the former officer, who has been getting by doing security work, was having a hard time providing for his family. He said many attempts were made to see Williams over the possibility of his reinstatement.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Ramsundarsingh said during the years of the case his family had to stay with other relatives and were constantly moving around renting apartments. He said last week they were evicted from their latest home in Vessigny.
He said his wife also has problems finding employment because she was branded as a criminal.
“There is stigma over her head also and nobody wants to help. We owing money for rent and was evicted and they took all the stuff in our place,” he said.
“I am hoping that the commissioner of police reinstates me, I hope to get back my job and they pay me my money because once they do that they have to pay me my money. I don’t know why they don’t want to reinstate me.”
Contacted on the issue, Police Service Social and Welfare Association president Insp Michael Seales said only the CoP had the power to make a call on Ramsundarsingh’s future.
“It simply means according to the SRP Act the commissioner can end or recommence the call out and that’s where he has to go,” he said.
Seales said they could not say why Ramsundarsingh was not recalled to duty by the commissioner.
“That’s for him (Williams) to explain. The association could only point that it would require retraining of Mr Ramsundarsingh, there is continuous involvement in their responsibility. We understand his plight and will renew our efforts to assist him,” he said.
Also contacted yesterday, an official at the SRP’s adjutant’s office said Ramsundarsingh needed to follow up on letters sent to the commissioner’s office and there was a process in possible disciplinary action taken.
Attorneys Farid Scoon and Associates, who represent Ramsundarsingh, have written several letters to the offices of the Attorney General, the TTPS and to Williams seeking clarification on the way forward.
Yesterday, attorney Ricky Pandohee said the continuing decision to keep the former SRP out of the service was a clear breach of his terms and contract of employment, as well as his rights to equality of treatment. He said there were no viable grounds in which to continue the suspension.
A pre-action protocol letter was in fact sent to the commissioner’s office after they failed to recall Ramsundarsingh for duty.
Attempts made to contact Williams were unsuccessful yesterday as he did not answer his cell phone and did not return messages.
ROBBERY ALLEGATIONS
Ramsundarsingh was accused of robbing security guards Michael Norton and Chan Seepersad of $500,000, two Smith and Wesson .357 revolvers, 12 rounds of ammunition and two carry bags valued at $395 each at Cragnish Village, Princes Town. He was also accused of shooting at Constables Brent Cabrera and Shannon Ali with intent to do them grievous bodily harm at M1 Tasker Road, Princes Town, and possession of a firearm and ammunition.
