Two policemen were put on an identification parade last evening in connection with the sexual assault of a woman and bribery. They are accused of sexually assaulting the woman in a squad car while they had her in custody on a matter. The officers—a constable and a member of the Special Reserve United—were also questioned by their colleagues from the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) after the woman made a report on an incident in which they were allegedly involved.
Both officers are assigned to a station in western Trinidad. On Monday, officers assigned to the station where the accused are assigned said ten members of the PSB entered the building asking for the accused. After being told the officers were not at the station, the PSB members asked for the sergeant on duty. The sergeant reportedly told them one of the suspected officers was present but the other was on mobile patrol.
The senior officer assigned to the PSB then instructed his colleagues to arrest the officer who was at the station and asked that a wireless be sent out for the mobile patrol unit to return to the station immediately. When the unit returned the other officer was taken into custody and the PSB members took both accused away. However, their arrests were not lodged in the station diary. The officers have been detained at the Central and Belmont Police Stations since their arrests.
The T&T Guardian understands that one of the officers is accused of sexually assaulting the woman while she was in custody, while his colleague was held for allegedly offering the victim $1,800 not to report the matter. The victim claims she was with the officers along the North Coast Road, Maracas, after being picked up on a report of possession of marijuana on February 25.
It is alleged that one of the officers took her into the back seat of the police vehicle where he searched her. He then allegedly placed his hands into her underwear and sexually assaulted her. He then allegedly told the victim, “I never see one like this before.” Contacted yesterday, members of the Professional Standards Bureau denied the officers were under arrest although they were still in police custody. The accused officers were placed on parade last evening where they were pointed out by the victim.
Williams not yet briefed
Contacted yesterday on the matter, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said he was unaware of the case as he was out of the country. “I haven't heard about the matter. I am sure they would not want to tell me but it could be simply dealt with by other officers,” Williams said. Attempts to contact Police Service Social and Welfare Association president Anand Ramesar were unsuccessful yesterday. Also contacted, the association’s secretary Michael Seales said he had not heard about the matter and did not wish to comment.