A police officer, described as a “well-rounded crime- fighter,” appeared in the Chaguanas Magistrates Court yesterday accused of misbehaving in public office. After securing $100,000 bail from Senior Magistrate Gillian David-Scotland PC Kevin Jacob sat in the public gallery of the court staring at the ground with his palms clutched. Jacob, 26, of Coconut Drive, Williamsville, is jointly charged with his colleagues — PCs Selvon Joseph and Samuel Gardiner — with soliciting a bribe. They are attached to the Chaguanas Robbery Squad.
Gardiner and Joseph appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court earlier after they were arrested by Sgt Bryon Daniel of the Professional Standards Bureau. Jacob was charged yesterday morning after he surrendered at the Chaguanas Police Station. According to the charges, on February 28 this year Jacob wilfully released Guyanese national Desean Rose from legal custody, knowing he was an illegal immigrant. The second charge alleged that on the same day, Jacob corruptly agreed to accept $20,000 from Kerry Rambaran as a reward for disregarding a criminal offence and prosecution of a criminal offender.
The third charge accused Jacob, Gardiner and Joseph of corruptly agreeing to accept $20,000 from Rambaran as a reward for disregarding the detection and prosecution of a criminal offence.
Gardiner and Joseph are represented by attorney Shaliza Khan who made an application for the matters to be heard in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court. Attorney Taradath Singh, who is representing Jacob, told the court his client, who has nine years’ service, surrendered after he learned a warrant had been issued for his arrest. “He has no where to go and he is known as a well- rounded crime-fighter,” Singh told David-Scotland. After the hearing, the three policemen sat on benches outside the court for close to an hour as media photographers converged at the gateway in an attempt to get their photographs. The matter was adjourned to May 8.