Cop who sues Commissioner undergoes surgery

A police officer, who is suing the Police Service for an alleged  illegal transfer and injuries she sustained on the job, has undegone surgery at the St Clair Medical Centre. Twenty-six-year-old WPC Nisha Sookram a former reporter underwent corrective surgery two weeks ago after suffering a herniated disc in her back. Sookram applied for judicial review in the San Fernando High Court before Justice Sebastien Ventour. She is challenging the decision of the Police Commissioner to transfer her without giving her 14 days notice. Sookram was represented by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC and Sunil Gopaul-Gosine instructed by Garnet Mungalsingh and Company. After several requests were made for her file through the Police Social and Welfare Association to be forwarded by the Police Administration Department to the Permanent Secretary for approval of her medical fees for the corrective surgery, she was informed that her file could not be located.

Sookram completed police training in July 1997 and was assigned to the Charge Room department of several Police Stations in the Central Division. On October 1, 2001, the policewoman was transferred to the Fraud Squad Department. It was during that time that Sookram began suffering from increasing pain to her back sustained from a fall she sustained five years ago on the wet floor of the female bathroom hall at the Police Barracks. Sookram is contesting that while on sick leave, which went into effect on May 8, 2003, she was transferred from her current job in the Fraud Squad Department to the non attached department of the Police Headquarters, Administration building and was further transferred to the Central Division effective August 5, without her knowledge. According to the writ, the transfer was illegal and in breach of the natural rules of justice, and a demotion of her post which would result in the reduction of her salary of $2,000 per month. Sookram also contends that her transfer was unauthorised, in excess of jurisdiction, an error of law, breach of or omission to perform a duty, deprivation of a legitimate expectation and unreasonable, irregular or improper exercise of jurisdiction.