Two Coast Guard officers appeared in court yesterday to answer a total of 13 charges arising from an incident with police on Saturday night. Stephano Poolo and Seaman Madhoo, both able bodied seamen, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the San Fernando court charged with nine offences arising out of the incident while Madhoo is charged with four offences.
Poolo, of Gopaul Street, Marabella, is charged with maliciously wounding Woman Police Cpl Maxwell, maliciously wounding PC Keaton Spencer, maliciously damaging Spencer's Motorola cellphone, valued $1,200, maliciously damaging Sgt Glen Charles' cellphone, valued $700, and maliciously damaging Charles' shirt, valued $150. He also was charged with using obscene language, throwing missiles to the danger of others, resisting arrest and having a weapon in his possession, namely a knife, with intent to commit an indictable offence. Madhoo, of Tableland, was charged with using obscene language, throwing missiles, resisting arrest and obstructing Sgt Charles in the execution of his duty.
They both pleaded not guilty. The offences are alleged to have taken place at a nightclub in La Romaine on Saturday night. Attorney El Farouk Hosein, who appeared for both coast guardsmen, lodged a formal complaint with Wellington alleging that Poolo was beaten by the police when he was arrested. He said his client "was so beaten he was unable to comprehend who was beating him." Court prosecutor Sgt Robin Rampersad said after Poolo and Madhoo were arrested they were handed over to a senior Coast Guard officer. The matter was transferred to the San Fernando Sixth Court and adjourned to February 1.
Reporting by Reshma Ragoonath