Acting Commissioner of Police Mc Donald Jacob is assuring the public that investigations are ongoing with the objective of bringing to justice all those involved in the theft of a Galil firearm, and a quantity of ammunition from the Task Force office of the San Juan Police Sub-Station, on Sunday 26th December 2021.
His assurances come as an acting Sergeant of Police, Hector Quashie, was granted bail in the sum of $250,000 by a Justice of the Peace (JP), after being charged with two counts of Misbehaviour in Public Office, in relation to the theft. He is one of several officers who were detained in connection with the case.
An official statement from the Police Service reports that Sgt (Ag.) Quashie was granted bail by JP Abraham Ali, at the Besson Street Police Station, on Monday 10th January 2022, after being charged with the following offences:
■ Misbehaviour in Public Office to wit by wilfully neglecting or failing to secure a Galil firearm, fitted with two magazines, issued to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the property of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and,
■ Misbehaviour in Public Office to wit by wilfully neglecting or failing to secure 70 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, issued to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the property of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Sgt (Ag.) Quashie is expected to reappear virtually in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday 10th February 2022.
The Police Service says following a report into the firearm and ammunition being stolen from the Task Force office of the San Juan Police Sub-Station, on Sunday 26th December 2021, several officers of the North-Eastern Division Task Force were detained by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).
Investigations into the matter were spearheaded by W/Snr. Supt. (Ag.) Suzette Martin.
On Monday 10th January 2022, advice was received from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, and Sgt (Ag.) Quashie was subsequently charged by Cpl (Ag.) Lawrence Joefield, also of the PSB, on that same date.