MANHUNTBy Vashtee Achibar Wednesday, October 12 2011
Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs yesterday suspended two policemen pending an investigation into how murder accused Halim Ballack and Malcom Fraser escaped from the Point Fortin Police Station early on Monday morning, hours before they were due to appear at the magistrates’ court next door.
Even as the policemen, who were on duty at the time of the jail break, were receiving their suspension letters, a manhunt for the two fugitives was taking place in the forest of Morne Diablo as well as the southern coastline.
The policemen were at first summoned to meet Gibbs at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, but the commissioner instead instructed an officer from his office to serve the suspension letters to them at the Point Fortin Police Station.
During a briefing in Port-of-Spain with reporters yesterday, director of the Public Affairs Unit of the Police Service, Sharon Lee Assang, confirmed the two police officers were instructed to attend a meeting with Gibbs.
However, Gibbs did not meet the officers as he had planned, choosing to keep a commitment to attend the launch of the Victim and Witness Support Unit at the San Fernando City Corporation yesterday at about 1 pm.
Commenting on the escape of the murder accused, Gibbs, speaking to reporters in San Fernando, said the fugitives were armed and called on the public to report any sighting of them.
“There have been investigations (and we are) in the process of reviewing information. We are looking for the individuals who have escaped and ask the public to be very careful if they come across them and to contact the police. They could be dangerous,” Gibbs said.
He did not comment on the suspension of the two policemen.
Ballack, 30, and Fraser 32, of Beach Road, Palo Seco, were discovered missing from a cell at the Point Fortin Police Station on Monday morning hours before they were scheduled to appear in the nearby court charged with the murder of Wayne Carrington, 57, of Reservoir Hill, Point Fortin.
Carrington was shot and killed on September 25 while he was sitting in the road near his home. Police say they recovered a loaded .38 revolver which is believed to be the weapon used in the killing.
Ballack and Fraser were charged over the weekend and transferred from the Marabella police station to Point Fortin on Friday, for their court appearance on Monday before they escaped.
Police sources say the lock of the cell was not tampered with and the officers who were on duty claimed to have seen the men shortly before midnight on Sunday.
On Monday, the officers were interviewed by Snr Supt Gilbert Ramsey and ASP Rajkumar of the South Western Division. Following, these initial interviews, the officers were suspended on Gibbs’ instruction yesterday.
Also yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Frederick, who is in charge of divisions in south Trinidad, coordinated searches for the escaped men in their hometown of Palo Seco, Morne Diablo, Point Fortin and Cedros with aerial support from two police Viper helicopters. They were not found.
Some officers believe the two murder accused may be in Venezuela, saying it would have been easy for them to get to the South American mainland by boat.
The search parties included officers of the Southern and South Western Divisions Task Force, as well as the Crime Suppression Unit.
On Monday afternoon, police released a sketch of Ballack, also known as “Hal” and “Reddo”. He is of mixed descent, fair in complexion and is “tied tongue” . He also sports a tattoo with the initials “HB” on his left forearm.
A senior police officer said yesterday they do not have a photograph or sketch of Fraser.
Frederick yesterday renewed his call for anyone with information to call the Point Fortin police at 648-2426.
(By Vashtee Achibar Police Commissioner Dwayne Gib)
