Two days after National Security Minister Jack Warner backtracked on his gag order against the media, an attorney representing two police officers pleaded with a Chaguanas magistrate to bar the media from reporting about his clients. Attorney Joseph Honore made the appeal as Longdenville policemen Cpl Kenneth Laldeo, 50, and PC Adesh Babooram, appeared before Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland in the Chaguanas Magistrates Court yesterday.
The men were charged with soliciting and receiving money and an agouti from a man charged with a traffic offence. Honore charged that initial media reports on his clients were unbalanced and were prejudicial to his case. He said because of the information released to the public through the media, his clients have been traumatised.
However, a smiling Scotland was unmoved by Honore's passionate attempt to secure a media blackout for the men, and granted bail in the sum of $85,000 each. The charges read by Scotland, were that on October 3, they being agents of the State, solicited $7,000 and an agouti.
The second charge accused the officers of receiving $3,000 and an agouti, in endeavourment of a reward from Ancel Gooram. In making his plea for bail, Honore told the court that Laldeo, who lives at Gasparillo, was a husband and the father of four children. He said Laldeo had served as a police officer for 21 years and has a clean record.
He said Babooram, of St Joseph, is married and had recently received commendation from the police service, for risking his life to successfully stop an armed robbery. The matter was prosecuted by Sgt Michael Jackman, who did not object to bail. It was adjourned to November 8.
