Sharma claims political mischief

UNITED National Congress (UNC) Member of Parliament for Fyzabad Chandresh Sharma, yesterday described as “politically motivated”, a break-in at his constituency office, in which files containing information on alleged discrepancies in Monday’s Local Government Elections, money, computers and other items were stolen.

The total cost of items stolen has not yet been ascertained, but sources said it could exceed $12,000. In a telephone interview yesterday, Sharma said he believed the thieves who broke into his office were aware that he had several files with information about Monday’s elections stored in his office. He said he was almost certain the intruders’ main objective was to find those files. Revealing that he was not yet fully apprised of the details, since he was on his way to Port-of-Spain, Sharma nonetheless slammed the break-in as “straight politics.” The break-in was discovered by receptionist Pamela Parasoo around 8.45 am when she opened the main gate leading to the MP’s office, which comprises four rooms, including the MP’s office, secretary’s office, a store room and conference/kitchen area. Sharma’s office was the only room not broken into.

On checking, Parasoo discovered the three other rooms ransacked and several files, $2,000 in cash, six bottles of Scotch whiskey and wine, a box of shirts, some trophies, several hampers and other items missing. She also discovered a NESC Computer Centre located downstairs the office had also been broken into and three computers, two mouse, a CPU and a keyboard missing. A NESC tutor said that apart from the stolen equipment, the intruders also dumped garbage in the cupboards and buried a calendar with a photo of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday in the garbage. Employees reported to police that they had secured the building around 5.15 pm on Wednesday and left. Investigators believe the intruders had gained entry by cutting a padlock off a burglar-proof door at the side of the building. Police sources are working on the theory that the bandits may have been familiar with the interior of the building. Visiting the scene was a party of officers from Fyzabad police station headed by Insp Michael Wells. Fingerprint experts also visited the burglarised office in search of clues. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and investigations were continuing.