State attorney to prosecute four constables

Just two months after their initial court appearance a State attorney has been appointed to prosecute four police constables accused of kidnapping and robbing a Ste Madeleine man in May. State attorney Stacy Lalloo-Chung appeared in the Princes Town First Court before Magistrate Ann Ryan on Thursday and announced that she has been appointed to prosecute PCs Reeves Boodoo, of Iere Village, Branch Road, Ste Madeleine; Roger Singh, of Kalpoo Street, St Margaret's Old Road, Claxton Bay; Errol Manphool, of Solomon Street, Cedar Hill, Princes Town; and Neil Harripersad, of Poona Road, Williamsville.

The four officers first appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court on July 24 and were all last attached to the Ste Madeleine police station. They are jointly charged with kidnapping Larry Barran on May 12, at Daisy Road, Ste Madeleine, and robbing him of $2,240. Boodoo faces an additional charge of defrauding another officer of the Mayaro Police in the sum of $340. The charges were laid indictably by Sgt Michael Veronique of the Professional Standards Bureau.

Attorney Kevin Ratiram appeared for Manpool. Attorney Chateram Sinanan is representing the other three officers. Ratiram asked for disclosure. Ryan adjourned the matter to November 22 to set a date for trial.