Police were expected to complete their investigation into an incident aboard a yacht owned by T&T Police Service (TTPS) Legal Unit head Christian Chandler last evening.
Guardian Media understands that around 3 pm yesterday, detectives of the Professional Standards Bureau were in the process of interviewing Chandler, who was arrested at his home on Wednesday.
Sources said that detectives had a few loose ends to tie up in their investigation before they approach the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on whether Chandler should be charged in relation to the incident.
According to reports, Chandler was among 14 people detained aboard a pleasure craft and escorted to Staubles Bay by Coast Guard officers on August 5.
The T&T Coast Guard said it had received information that a pleasure craft allegedly had more than five people aboard, contrary to the public health regulations.
On August 16, Chandler proceeded on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Yesterday morning, Chandler’s lawyers, Wayne Sturge and Alexia Romero, sent a pre-action protocol letter to Deputy Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob questioning how the investigation was not completed before Chandler’s arrest.
“The officers of the TTPS had more than two months to investigate the said incident and to date, are still unable to make a determination either way,” Romero said.
Romero noted that their client was arrested at his home around 5.30 pm on Wednesday and remained detained at the Maloney Police Station.
She claimed that Chandler’s relatives visited the police station around 8 am yesterday to deliver food and water for him but were refused.
“The said officers instead intimidated and interrogated the family members of our client,” she said.
Romero suggested that it appeared that investigators did not have sufficient evidence and wanted to interview Chandler in a bid to have him incriminate himself to aid with their investigation and lead to criminal charges.
“This course of action is clearly unlawful in the extreme and my client has been subject to this type of action since the time he subjected himself to this interview process,” Romero said.
“What has been pellucidly clear is that at present, the investigating officers have no evidence that our client was involved in the commission of any criminal offence. The further deprivation of our client’s liberty in those circumstances is clearly unlawful.”
She said the action of the police officers appeared designed to sap the willpower of her client.
“While the police have the power to investigate the commission of any criminal offence and the discharge of the power must be in the public interest, they cannot do so in an unlawful manner and they cannot do so in circumstances where that duty conflicts with the express provisions of the law and deprives our client of his guaranteed rights,” Romero said.
In a response to Chandler’s lawyers, TTPS legal officer Tsonda Gayle called upon them to hold their hands on filing a habeas corpus over their client’s detention.
Gayle suggested that 48 hours detention without charge is reasonable and Chandler was only detained for 22 hours when the correspondence was sent.
“Your client’s detention, therefore, continues to be reasonable and justifiable in this situation,” Gayle said.
Gayle also revealed that Chandler was being investigated for breaching section 3(1)(c) of the Emergency Powers (No 2) Regulations of 2021, which currently makes it an offence to be found at a body of water like a river or beach for recreational purposes.
He is also being investigated for obstructing members of the T&T Coast Guard and for allegedly being in possession of a firearm not covered by a firearm user’s licence.
Guardian Media understands that three Special Reserve Police (SRPs) were also arrested in relation to the case on Wednesday and remained in custody as detectives completed their investigation.