Four policemen have been detained in connection with stealing over $500,000 from a Chinese couple during a raid on their apartment last week. The policemen—an acting sergeant, acting corporal and two constables—were arrested early yesterday after over a week of investigations by detectives from the Professional Standards Bureau. Three of them were arrested at their homes in east Trinidad while the other was held when he reported for duty at the Malabar Police Station.
Police sources said the four, all formerly assigned to the Arouca Criminal Investigations Department (CID), will remain detained at the bureau’s Port-of-Spain offices and would be charged this weekend in time for a court appearance on Monday morning.
According to reports, last Wednesday the policemen, dressed in plainclothes, searched an apartment at Bon Air Gardens, Arouca, owned by Danny and Yvonne Owu. Three of them reportedly ransacked the apartment while the other waited in their SUV. A resident of the building contacted the couple, the owners of a restaurant and casino, after the men were seen leaving the apartment with loaded duffle bags.
A report was made to police and using the licence plate number recorded by the witness, the SUV used by the policemen was eventually traced to the Arouca station. Although the officers were questioned and their homes searched days after the incident, the money is yet to be recovered. Prior to their arrests on Friday, the four policemen were transfered from the specialised unit and returned to uniform duties, sources said.