SENIOR COP FACES MISCONDUCT CHARGES

A SENIOR police officer is expected to face charges of misconduct in public office and malfeasance as a result of the gun licence-for-sale racket. 

The criminal charges are expected to follow the preliminary study which was undertaken by a committee headed by retired judge Stanley John, and which is to be further investigated, with recommendations to be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions. 

A further probe into the John findings is expected to intensify over the next few weeks, following which the office of DPP is to be approached to lay charges. 

The John enquiry was prompted by reports that certain senior officers of the Police Service brought the service into disrepute and engaged in acts of misconduct. 

The report identified several examples of such alleged wrongdoing. 

The issues pertain to an alleged racket in which certain applicants for firearms’ licences paid bribes and were directed to certain gun suppliers and other service providers. 

Multiple licences were granted to certain applicants. 

Two officers – SRP Lyndon Bishop and PC Chris Tribanie – were recently charged, and a daily newspaper reported that that is only the tip of the racket. 

John and his team were hired by the Police Service Commission (PSC), headed by Bliss Seepersad. 

The exhaustive report was passed to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley. 

There have been deliberate leaks to a daily newspaper, in an attempt to sour public’s view of certain senior police officials. 

Well-placed sources said that “a major high-stakes issue is looming in Trinidad and Tobago.”