Mark Bassant
Four police officers attached to the Special Operation Response Team (SORT) are now in police custody to assist in inquiries into the death of Andre Morris and Joel Balcon, who were suspects in the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bharatt on January 29.
Within hours of Bharatt’s disappearance, both Morris and Balcon were picked up by a team of SORT and Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) officers.
However, Morris subsequently died at hospital on February 1, while Balcon succumbed to injuries he allegedly sustained while in police custody on February 8.
Just four days before Balcon’s demise, the bloated body of Bharatt was found dumped off a precipice in the Heights of Aripo.
There were then allegations that both men were beaten while in police custody.
Sources close to the current investigation yesterday told Guardian Media that the four officers, who are between 25-48 years, were asked to report to the Maloney Police Station around 10 am yesterday and to walk with their attorneys.
Senior police sources told Guardian Media that the police officers spent most of the day at the station but were not questioned during the course of the day. Sources said the officers were later arrested on the suspicion that they were suspects in the inquiry into the deaths of Morris and Balcon.
However, the officers had still not been regarding Morris and Balcon’s death interviewed up to press time.
The officers, Guardian Media understands, are expected to be interviewed today and contrary to social media posts circulating yesterday, they were not arrested and charged with murder. However, senior police sources say the officers could face other charges, which include assault occasioning actual bodily harm, misbehaviour in public office and perverting the course of justice.