PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher has been “arrested and detained” as investigations proceed into the importation of two sniper rifles by the Strategic Providers Company (SSA).
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Suzette Martin advised a information convention that the highest cop, who had been moved to a secret location, had been “arrested and detained “together with the previous director of the SSA, Main Roger Greatest “over the previous few days.
“We perceive that this has raised vital public concern and we’re dedicated to offering as a lot data as attainable whereas respecting the continuing investigation,” Martin mentioned.
“Right now, an lively investigation is continuing, and I have to stress that it’s nonetheless in progress. We’re working intently with the Director of Public Prosecution and the related authorities to make sure that due course of is adopted and that every one authorized protocols are noticed,” she added.
Police mentioned the illegal procurement of firearms triggered the investigations, and fees might embody misbehavior in public workplace.
Martin mentioned that because the investigations are nonetheless ongoing “and are at a delicate stage, we can’t present particular particulars concerning the nature of the arrest.
“It is crucial that we permit the investigation to unfold with out interference. I ask you on your understanding and persistence as we make sure that all facets of this matter are addressed completely and pretty”.
Martin mentioned she needed to reassure the general public that the arrest of the Police Commissioner “doesn’t have an effect on the day-to-day operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.”
“Our officers stay dedicated to serving and defending the residents of Trinidad and Tobago,” she mentioned, including that the members of the hierarchy of the TTPS “are additionally right here with us immediately, and we are going to proceed to perform with out disruption.
“We’re absolutely operational, and the protection and safety of the general public stay our prime precedence,” she mentioned, with the police indicating that arrests and different actions related to the present state of emergency are persevering with.
“The integrity of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service as an establishment stays robust, and we proceed to carry the best commonplace of professionalism. The general public ought to anticipate continued service from the police, and security and safety will stay our precedence,” Martin mentioned, including that the TTPS is dedicated to transparency and accountability.
‘We are going to proceed to offer updates as applicable, however we should be conscious to not compromise the investigation or authorized proceedings. We should make sure that justice is served pretty and with out bias, and we are going to achieve this with integrity,” she added.
In Could final yr, Harewood-Christopher was given a one-year extension as police commissioner after the Cupboard had earlier indicated that on Could 13, it suggested President Christine Kangaloo below the Police Service Act (part 75(a)) to increase her service for a yr beginning Could 15.
Harewood-Christopher reached the retirement age of 60 on Could 15, 2023, and Cupboard gave her a one-year extension till Could 24, 2024.
Through the information convention, the police confirmed that the highest cop had been moved to a secret location because the probe continued, including that her constitutional rights are being noticed “and we have now taken a proactive step to make sure that there isn’t any matter that will come up that will place her welfare at prejudice.”
The police mentioned that each effort is being made to have the prison investigations accomplished as quickly as attainable, noting “it has at all times been a longtime apply and protocol to conduct investigations expeditiously, diligently” and that directions have been given to make sure that the “matter proceeds expeditiously and diligently.”
When reporters requested Martin what assurances the police would give to make sure that the investigations have been above board, given the folks concerned, Martin responded by saying,” We’re conducting investigations with professionalism. We’re additionally speaking with the Director of Public Prosecutions in all our undertakings.”
Harewood-Christopher will not be the primary police commissioner to be arrested and investigated in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1986, suspended police commissioner Randall Burroughs, who turned police commissioner in 1978, was arrested on drug smuggling fees and appeared in courtroom in reference to the 1983 deaths of two males in a police shootout.
The fees have been introduced in opposition to the police chief following a authorities investigation into the drug commerce.
In the meantime, businessman Luke Hadeed, accompanied by his legal professional Om Lalla, voluntarily surrendered himself on Friday for questioning within the ongoing investigation.
“There are studies within the media that Luke Hadeed …was in hiding, below arrest, detained; nothing could possibly be farther from the reality. We perceive that they need to interview him, we can be found, we have now nothing to cover,” legal professional Lalla mentioned, including that the unfounded studies are damaging his shopper’s title and popularity.
“We’re going to (police) headquarters, submitting to no matter course of, and on the finish of it, we can take care of it accordingly. We are going to tackle the media appropriately afterward.”
In July final yr, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley advised Parliament that an audit of the SSA discovered that it had adopted an “unapproved organizational design and construction and staffing” with out the required information of the competent authorities.
Final March, the federal government confirmed Main Greatest’s removing as SSA director. It changed him with Ambassador Brigadier Anthony Phillips-Spencer, who had been recalled from Washington and served because the nation’s ambassador to the US.
Greatest was amongst simply over a dozen folks fired from the SSA for the reason that authorities introduced that one thing amiss was occurring on the company. The self-proclaimed spy Pastor Ian Brown was fired as a Particular Reserve Police officer on March 19.
Rowley advised Parliament that the SSA was established in 1995 to information the formulation and implementation of nationwide insurance policies on the illicit trafficking of harmful medication and associated prison actions.
However he advised legislators that an in depth inner overview and audit of the SSA had been ongoing since March 4 final yr, and it had been found that the “unapproved group construction and staffing “ had been undertaken with out the required permission.
“For instance, the SSA established and operated a extremely educated and militarised so-called “Tactical Response Unit” for operational functions. This unit was examined and abolished in March 2024 as a part of the audit overview. Its operations earlier than March 2024 are below overview by SSA and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS),” Rowley mentioned.
