PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Monday said it has “independently initiated an investigation” into the alleged disappearance of seized ammunition from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
“Several similar reports of missing exhibits and seized items in the custody of the TTPS have been investigated by the TPS, which has the sole remit under Section 48 (2) (of the PCA Act) to investigate criminal offenses involving police officers, police corruption and serious police misconduct,” the PCA said in a statement.
“The allegation of missing ammunition from the TTPS is a matter of great concern, and the PCA will undertake a comprehensive investigation into this matter,” it added.
The PCA said it had also taken note of a newspaper article on Monday, in which the Police Commissioner, Erla Harewood-Christopher has ordered an immediate investigation into the disappearance of an estimated 500 rounds of ammunition that the police had seized from a licensed gun dealer in October last year.
Harewood-Christopher, who earlier this month received the nod from the Parliament for the top post, told a television station on Sunday night that the matter is now engaging the attention of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).
The ammunition had been seized from the Firearms Training Institute Ltd, with the owner, Towfeek Ali, also reporting that the police had taken his firearms and ammunition and the company’s computers and registers.
By letter dated January 24, 2023, the company’s attorney Anand Rampersad wrote to TTPS Legal officer Adita Ramdular indicating that 500 rounds of ammunition had been missing and requested that they be returned immediately.
On Sunday, opposition legislator Dr. Roodal Moonilal told a news conference that the police had seized the ammunition last year from a company in Central Trinidad, and legal action had been taken against the police.
He said a judge ordered that the ammunition be returned, and 500 rounds of ammunition were missing when that was done.
Moonilal said the police had descended on the company’s premises under the “guise” of conducting a regular inspection of their books, and an estimated1 130 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition and weapons were seized for safekeeping.
He said in November 2022, attorneys representing the company wrote the police and enquired about the seized ammunition and weapons. Still, there was no response, and the company filed for judicial review in December.
The opposition legislator said an injunction was heard on January 23 this year, and Justice Devendra Rampersad ordered the police to return the ammunition and weapons to the company.
Moonilal said only 630 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition were returned and that the TTPS is now in contempt of a court order, and legal action is also being taken on this.
Moonilal said the police are speaking in a subsequent communication to the company they think they “miscalculated” by 500.
“Now, what happens? Do the police have to go back to SEA classes to try and get mathematics correct? How could you miscalculate 500 rounds of ammunition? Five hundred rounds of ammunition cannot be found, a national crisis upon us again. Mrs. Harewood-Christopher needs to get cracking to investigate this,” Moonilal told reporters.
In its statement, the PCA said it is “dedicated to promoting public confidence in the Trinidad and Tobago justice system” and is inviting members of the public “to share any information they may have related to the investigations.”
It said all information received “is confidential.”
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