Almost seven years after they were charged with marijuana trafficking and illegal firearm possession, two police officers have been freed.
Last week, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) issued a notice of discontinuance in relation to PCs Stephen Johnson and Toola Jack, citing insufficient evidence to continue their prosecution.
The officers, who always maintained their innocence, were formally discharged during a status hearing before High Court Master Margaret Sookraj-Goswami on Wednesday.
Johnson, 36, of St Barbs, Laventille, and 33-year-old Jack, from Gonzales, Belmont, were charged in September 2017.
The duo were reportedly driving a marked police vehicle along the Southern Main Road in Dow Village, South Oropouche, when they were stopped by officers of the South Western Division Task Force.
Three illegal firearms and 54.3 kilos of marijuana in four crocus bags were allegedly found in the vehicle.
At the time, Johnson had been a police officer for four years, while Jack had five years of service. They were both assigned to the Firearm Intelligence and Interdiction Team of the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
They were each released on $1 million bail.
A preliminary enquiry was not held for the duo and the case was recently assigned to Master Sookraj-Goswami to conduct a sufficiency hearing to determine if they should face a trial.
The State’s main witness against the duo was an alleged informant, who reportedly took the duo to a coastal location in south Trinidad where they found the illegal items shortly before their arrest.
Jack was represented by Rosario Sookdeo, while Ian Brooks represented Johnson.
