Murder accused with suspected tuberculosis

A man on trial for murder was sent to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) yesterday where he has been warded after being diagnosed with symptoms of tuberculosis. Murder accused Kamal Pooran is in critical condition, under police guard at Ward nine of the hospital, but he has not been placed in quarantine. TB is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. It can affect many parts of the body, but is found most commonly (80 percent of the time) in the lungs, where it is called “pulmonary tuberculosis”. Since last Thursday, Pooran’s trial at the San Fernando High Court has been cut short almost every day because the accused has been complaining of nausea, stomach cramps and vomitting.

Yesterday around 9 am, shortly after he sat down in the prisoner’s dock next to his co-accused Ramzan Asgarali, he again vomitted. Pooran complained through his attorney that he had not received treatment at the Infirmary of Remand Yard since he complained of feeling ill. Pooran has been in custody at Remand Yard since his arrest some three years ago. Pooran, 25, and Asgarali, 22, both of Rio Claro, are on trial for the murder of Rio Claro taxi driver Surujbally Mohan, 62. Yesterday trial judge Justice Herbert Volney ordered medical treatment for Pooran, and the accused was taken from the High Court by ambulance. Newsday learnt the accused was almost immediately warded after he was seen by doctors at the Accident and Emergency Department.

Several police officers of the San Fernando Court and Process Department, who have been dealing with Pooran on a daily basis, have become concerned for their own health. Unaware of the prisoner’s medical condition, the officers had not worn facial masks to protect themselves from contracting the disease. Medical Chief of Staff at SFGH, Dr Austin Trinidade, said the prisoner would have to undergo a series of tests before tuberculosis can be confirmed in his body. The tests and results, Dr Trinidade said, could take several days. Communications Specialist of the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) Zenobia Nanan said Pooran’s condition was classified as “Query TB” and that his blood-sample was taken for testing. Meanwhile, Commis-sioner of Prisons Leo Abraham, told Newsday he was not yet aware of Pooran’s case but said it was “an issue of serious concern”.

Commissioner Abraham said that at Remand Yard a minimum of three prisoners and a maximum of five prisoners are kept in a single cell. “If the case is indeed diagnosed with tuberculosis then he (Pooran) would have to go through the Prison’s medical set-up for treatment,” either at Caura District Hospital or Mount Hope Hospital. He commented that it was “higly unlikely” that a prisoner would be refused medical treatment at Remand Yard, but said he would look into the matter. Commissioner Abraham said Pooran’s cellmates would also have to undergo testing for the disease. Police sources revealed that almost two months ago, a prisoner coming to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court died in jail from TB.