$$ missing after police search

SENIOR Supt Shahid Ali, head of the Port-of-Spain Division, has instructed the police to investigate the disappearance of $700 after a police search at an apartment house on Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain. The decision to call in the police came after Jennifer Drakes told Newsday yesterday that the money disappeared after police searched a bedroom of her house, following the murder of her son-in-law, Jerryl Wiltshire. When Newsday contacted Sr Supt Ali, he said he has instructed Insp Manswell of the Besson Street Police Station to take a statement from Drakes. Drakes, 48, a part-time worker at Service Commission, said she had $1,500 in a purse in a drawer in the bedroom where Wiltshire, 21, was shot and killed around 1.30 am yesterday. The money, she said, was to pay a bill. Drakes said when she checked her purse just after 7 am yesterday, she discovered $700 missing. She said she told a male police officer who had returned to the scene of the crime just before 10 am yesterday about the missing money. 

Drakes said the officer told her that she should make an official complaint to the Police Complaints Unit. Drakes said during the search, none of her family members were allowed into the room.  She said it was only when the DMO came that relatives were allowed into the bedroom. Police sources said it is a customary thing for members of the public to be kept away from a crime scene, which is usually cordoned off. Drakes added that during the police search, she heard cupboards opening and closing. “I don’t know what they (police) were looking for,” she said, adding there were several officers in her bedroom. Asked if her deceased son-in-law could have stolen the money, Drakes said: “Jerry never stole any money from me.”  She said the other $800 was used to pay the bill.  Investigations are continuing.