Cops probe water tank tampering at South court

CASES at the Siparia Magistrates’ Court were postponed and staff sent home yesterday after police suspected that the water storage tanks at the courthouse had been tampered with. Not leaving anything to chance, police prevented the courthouse’s two magistrates — Maria Busby Earle Caddle and Rae Roopchan — from using the taps. The court staff was also issued similar instructions as police officers took samples of water from two storage tanks to be tested for poisonous substances. Police were called out to investigate possible contamination of the water when an MTS security guard noticed a gaping hole in the wire fence. A towel was also found on top of the tanks. 

The Siparia Magistrates’ Court is an old wooden building located next to the post office, only  a stone’s throw away from the police station. According to a police report, an MTS security guard patrolling the courthouse premises saw a hole large enough to accommodate a person’s body in the wire fence at the back of the building at 7 am. The report stated that the guard walked across to the station and reported the matter. A party of policemen led by Sgt Wells, Cpl Minors, PCs Sylvestor, Ramjag and Khan accompanied the guard back to the courthouse where they conducted a search. The police party took samples of water for testing at the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park, Port-of-Spain. The towel was seized.

A senior policeman told Newsday that while there was no concrete evidence that the water tanks had been tampered with, they did not want to take chances. None of the 24 employees, including the two magistrates, had arrived at the courthouse while the investigation was being conducted. Fearing that the water may have been contaminated, the lawmen briefed the magistrates and staff on the situation as they arrived for work. They were advised not to drink from the taps.

Several years ago, security at the court was heightened after a bullet bearing the name of magistrate Omar Jokhan was found on the front steps of the court. Police said they would get the results of the water samples today. An official in the magistracy yesterday advised all employees at the courthouse to leave the premises. Newsday learnt that instructions were given to replace both water tanks. PC Khan of the Siparia CID is continuing investigations.