Two policemen assigned to the Maraval station will appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court today charged with nine offences. PCs Adrian Jack, of Curepe, and Omari Gonsales, of Laventille, were charged by members of the Professional Standards Bureau yesterday after the Director of Public Prosecutions gave the instructions to do so.
Jack, a police constable with nine years’ service, and Gonsales, a special reserve police officer with less than a year’s service, were charged with nine criminal offences, including indecent assault and grievous sexual assault, arising out of an incident involving a female suspect which occurred last month. In addition to the assault charges, the accused also face charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, attempting to pervert the course of justice and corruptly soliciting and receiving $1,800 and $3,000 respectively from the alleged victim.
According to a release from the T&T Police Service yesterday, the charges arise from incidents on February 25 along Saddle Road, Maraval. The T&T Guardian understands that the victim, who was a suspect in a report of possession of marijuana, was initially taken into custody during a road block along Saddle Road, Maraval. The victim was then reportedly put into a police vehicle by two officers and taken to North Coast Road, Maracas.
It is alleged that while on the North Coast Road one of the officers went into the back seat with the suspect and sexually assaulted her. The other officer then allegedly offered her $1,800 to stay quiet. The victim, however, subsequently made a report. The officers were questioned and taken into custody by members of the Professional Standards Bureau on Monday. The two officers were pointed out by the victim during an identification parade at the Central Police Station on Wednesday night.
Colleagues stunned
Colleagues of the two officers yesterday expressed their disappointment and embarrassment over the incident. The T&T Guardian learned that some of their colleagues, friends and relatives even cried after hearing of their arrests. Concern was also raised yesterday over how the officers were allowed to take away the suspect from the road block exercise without permission from their seniors. It is the first time in years that the Maraval station has had any serious accusations of misconduct made against their officers, police said.
In a telephone interview yesterday, president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association said he was still in shock over the incident. “I find it to be inconsistent with police behaviour. This is almost to difficult to believe,” he said. He noted that cases like those often took too long to be investigated and “the persons making the complaint lose interest and confidence in the process.” He said as the body representing officers, they would ensure their members were given fair treatment.
“We always advise our members if there is an investigation into any misconduct or criminal behaviours. At the end of the day they must be held accountable and must abide by the rule of law,” he said, adding the association will also make itself available to their families and their colleagues.