Thursday, October 22 2009

FOUR police officers from the Chaguanas Police Station were yesterday served with suspension letters over an incident on September 26, where three prisoners escaped from the prisoners’ holding cell.

According to police reports at about 3.30 pm, the letters were handed over to the four officers with the letters headed, ‘Suspended for neglect of duty’. The letters were issued by Central Division head Snr Supt Christine Mc Millan. The officers’ suspension came into immediate effect as soon as it was handed to them.

The letter, which was signed by Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert stated that officers are to report at the Chaguanas Police Station on the first Wednesday and last Thursday of every month.

The officers, who were also instructed to hand over their full uniform and police equipment, were also instructed to attend their respective court or tribunal matters, if any.

On September 26, at about 5.20 am three prisoners who were being detained in the holding cell of the Chaguanas Police Station managed to escape. One of the prisoners, - a 21-year-old, who lived in Chaguanas, was however, re-captured a few hours after.

On September 29, the second prisoner - a 24-year-old of Chaguanas was recaptured. He was said to be hiding out at the home of his child mother at Kelly Village, Caroni. The third prisoner, up to yesterday, remained at large.

It was reported that the prisoners aged 21, 24 and 23 from Chaguanas, Cunupia and San Fernando respectively used a steel bar to pry open a padlock of the cell that they were in.

It was reported that senior officers at the station were told that the incident occurred because of the negligence of work carried out by workers at the station doing refurbishment works. It is believed that workmen left an old electrical pipe on the wall, close to the holding cell, which was used on that morning by the prisoners to aid their escape.

However, a tribunal will soon take place to find out what transpired, as for now the four officers in question have been suspended pending further investigations.