Head of the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS), Assistant Commissioner of Police Surrendra Sagramsingh, has been sent on leave as part of the probe into the murder of acting corporal Anusha Eversley and the theft of guns and ammunition at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station on Sunday.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media on the matter yesterday, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen confirmed the action.
She said it was an “Administrative directive by PS (Permanent Secretary) not to report for duty during the investigation.”
The minister described it as a precautionary measure.
She added, “It’s not a finding of misconduct or liability on his part.”
Minister Ameen also told Guardian Media that, “While there is the criminal investigation into the murder of Cpl Eversley and the stolen arms and ammunition, an administrative report is also expected to determine what went wrong from an administrative standpoint in terms of chain of command, supervision, procedures, etc, that may have been breached.”
She said they will use recommendations from that report for improvement.
ACP Sagramsingh confirmed to Guardian Media that he was handed a letter at 5 pm yesterday telling him he was being sent on leave. He said he was assured it did not mean there was any implication of misconduct on his part but was to ensure transparency during the duration of the probe.
Meanwhile, three more people have been arrested in connection with the brazen murder of Eversley and the theft of an estimated 62 guns and 4,000 rounds of ammunition from the municipal police station on Sunday.
It brings to ten the number of people between the ages of 16 to 33 in police custody in connection with the crimes. Yesterday, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander told the Senate the investigation was at a “sensitive stage” with police awaiting the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Among those held were two municipal police officers and a 16-year-old tradesman of Rosehill, Claxton Bay.
So far, police said 45 firearms and 900 rounds of ammunition, plus other types of ammunition, have also been recovered following Eversley’s murder.
Responding to questions from Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi about Sunday’s discovery of Eversley’s body and the theft of firearms and ammunition from the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, where she was based, Alexander also said measures are already being put in place to ensure that a breach does not occur again.
An autopsy revealed that Eversley was strangled and also suffered blunt and sharp force traumatic injuries (stab and chop wounds).
Al-Rawi, extending deepest condolences to Eversley’s family, added, “(She) was someone who I actually knew in the course of duties.”
Alexander said, “The murder of Corporal Eversley at the San Fernando Municipal Local Government Police Station and the subsequent stealing of firearms is a matter of great national concern. Since this incident occurred, less than 48 hours ago, the T&T Police Service has worked around the clock. I am (sic) confirmed that, according to the information from the Commissioner of Police, that 10 men, ages 16 to 33, are currently in police custody.”
“We have made significant progress in the recovery of these stolen ‘hardware’ (sic), including one MPX sub-machine gun, four shotguns, one revolver and 39 pistols. That includes also 900 rounds of ammunition and also 39 pistol magazines and one MPX magazine.”
Alexander added, “While the investigation is at a sensitive stage, and we await the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner of Police is already implementing drastic immediate institutional changes. These include strict new accountability protocols for firearms storage security to ensure such a breach never happens again at the Municipal Local Government police station.”
On Monday, the Commissioner said the TTPS had so far recovered a total of 38 firearms and 929 rounds of assorted ammunition stolen. He said the recovered weapons included one MPX submachine gun, one shotgun, one revolver and 35 pistols. In addition, 929 rounds of ammunition, comprising 900 rounds of 9mm, ten rounds of .38 calibre and ten shotgun cartridges, were recovered.
Al-Rawi asked if the widespread mechanisms available under the State of Emergency are being used in the management of the crime.
Alexander said, “All members of the national security apparatus are presently engaged at this time in order to bring closure to this situation as soon as humanly possible.”
Other queries by Al-Rawi were not allowed as they did not arise from the original question, which the Senate’s Standing Orders require.
