Four policemen, including an acting sergeant, are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today charged with robbing a Chinese couple of $655,000 last Wednesday. The Director of Public Prosecutions gave instructions to members of the Professional Standards Bureau to charge the four, who have a combined total of 59 years of service, yesterday. It is alleged that last Wednesday, the policemen, dressed in plainclothes, went to Danny and Yvonne Owu’s Bon Air Gardens, Arouca, apartment and carried out a search.
Three of them reportedly ransacked the apartment while the fourth waited in an SUV outside. The couple, who were not at home at the time, were contacted by a fellow resident at the building after the men were seen leaving with loaded duffle bags. A report was then made to police, who traced the SUV’s licence plate number to the Arouca station. One of the policemen’s colleagues subsequently agreed to turn state witness in the case, while the couple was reportedly placed under protective custody following threats on their lives. However, the missing money is yet to be recovered.
Yesterday, Cpl Rollocks, of the Professional Standards Bureau, charged the men with three counts of misbehaviour in public office, namely the larceny of $50,000, $430,000 and $175,000 from the Owus, casino and restaurant owners. Up to last night, the acting sergeant, of La Horquetta, corporal, of Malabar, and two constables, both of La Horquetta, remained in police custody.
Contacted yesterday, vice-president of the Police Social Welfare Association, acting inspector Michael Seales, also commended the policeman who turned state witness in the matter. "We applaud that because the work is about honesty, integrity and about having high moral fibre and ethics. “If that is so (the officer turning state witness), based on the information coming to hand, then we ask that officer to stand resolute and commit himself to telling the truth,” Seales said."
He said there were some "challenges" faced during the investigation, including the death threats issued to the victims, but added: "We hope that this matter can be speedily resolved so that we can restore some measure of trust and confidence to the public that is looking on and witnessing this matter as it unfolds."
