By AZARD ALI Tuesday, October 27 2009

A POLICE officer has fallen seriously ill to the Swine Flu virus, forcing closure of the San Fernando High Court yesterday where he worked. Judges, attorneys, judicial staff and members of the public filed out of the building when news spread at about 9 am that the officer who guards prisoners inside the Third Assize Court, was at the weekend warded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the San Fernando General Hospital.

The policeman, who is one of two officers who guard prisoners in the Third Assizes, fell ill on the weekend and has since been vomiting blood. Yesterday, he was hooked up to a ventilator at the hospital’s ICU.

Three judges — Justices Prakash Moosai, Anthony Carmona and Gillian Lucky, announced to accused persons, attorneys and staff in their respective courts, that it had been confirmed that the policeman had been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

News of the cop’s illness became evident when police officers refused to wear their white tunic and blue pants to perform court duties, but instead escorted prisoners in plainclothes. They also took up guard duties inside the courtrooms of the three assizes wearing pants and T-shirts.

The court’s deputy registrar, Toolsie Ramdin, was informed and an investigation was launched . Newsday was informed by a court marshal that the policeman was attached to the Third Assize court presided over by Lucky. He fell ill at the weekend and vomited blood. He was warded, Newsday was told, in a critical condition at the hospital’s ICU up to yesterday. The entire building was expected to sanitised late yesterday.