Anna-Lisa Paul
Investigators probing the alleged robbery of over $127,000 from a female police constable attached to the Besson Street Police Station have sought advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding charges to be laid against her and four accomplices, including a close male relative.
Guardian Media learned the WPC and the four men from west Trinidad remained in police custody up to yesterday, while the search continued for the female suspect who was originally believed to have stolen the cash from the officer.
The WPC was arrested on October 1, after she reported being robbed during an unscheduled visit to the Treasury, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain.
The four men were arrested on the weekend after they were found with cash and two government vouchers, which had been prepared in the amounts of $55,050 and $72,600.
The vouchers, which were signed by the WPC, also bore the stamp of the Besson Street Police Station.
Guardian Media was told one man had been found with less than $5,000 in cash, believed to be part of the stolen funds.
The officer, who was attached to the Office of the Inspector at the Besson Street Police Station, claimed she was robbed of cash as she walked along Independence Square, Port-of-Spain.
The miscellaneous cash was said to be fees collected at the station over several months as the public submitted payments for certificates of character, police reports and renewal of firearm permits.
Video footage captured by CCTV cameras situated on the perimeter of the police station confirmed the officer left the station via the back door.
The officer, who functions as a clerk, walked from East Dry River to the Treasury, which is outside the norm, as she is usually provided with an armed escort when depositing cash.
It was further alleged that upon arrival at the Treasury, she decided to leave without making the deposit because the line was too long.
On her way back to the station, the officer was close to Chacon Street when a suspect wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt reportedly grabbed the bag from her and ran off.
A 20-second video recorded by a CCTV camera along Chacon Street and posted on social media showed the suspect walking up the street as the smiling officer walked behind.
At one point, she appeared to be gesticulating to the suspect, after which she then chased after her.
The suspect was seen smiling broadly before running off.
Senior police officials said no directives were issued to the female officer to proceed with any deposit and that she would have acted on her own volition.
The incident led to a shake-up at the station, with the second clerk, who shared the office with the WPC, being handed a transfer notice the same day.
It also triggered the T&T Police Service (TTPS) to issue revised Standard Operating Procedures for all police stations, specifically regarding how clerks are to operate.
