Police seize Crime Watch tape

Shortly after midday, a party of officers led by investigator Acting ASP Ajith Persad, executed a search warrant at the TV6 newsroom, located at Express House along Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, and began searching for a tape which is to be used as evidence in the ongoing probe.

The party of officers also included Inspector Harvey Jawahir, Sgt Rajesh Gookool, Cpl Kevin Denny, and Cpl Andre Lopez, among other officers from the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department, Port-of-Spain Criminal Records Office, the Audio Visual Unit, the Fraud Squad, the Inter-Agency Task Force, the Guard and Emergency Department, the Port-of-Spain Task Force and the Port-of-Spain Division.

Presenter of the Crime Watch programme Ian Alleyne, who is at the centre of the investigation, was not present when the police initially entered the newsroom, however, he arrived shortly after 1 pm.

He was questioned briefly by the team of officers, however, Alleyne told the police he preferred to have his lawyer present for any interviews. Yet, up until 2.30 pm, when the police left the newsroom, Alleyne’s attorney had not arrived.

Investigators also questioned several CCN employees assigned to the Crime Watch programme in the presence

of the company’s attorney Faris Hussein.

A large crowd had gathered outside the building in support of Alleyne, and at about 2.30 pm, the Crime Watch host greeted his supporters and briefly talked to them on the issue.

He said the incident was political interference.

The investigations relate to video clips which aired on October 25, 2011, at 6 pm and 10.30 pm and on October 26, 2011 at 6 pm which allegedly depicts the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The airing of the clips caused a national outcry from such groups as the Media Association of TT (MATT), the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT), and various women’s rights groups including the Rape Crisis Society and head of the Coalition Against Domestic Violence Diana Mahabir-Wyatt.

The public outcry caused the Crime Watch programme to be temporarily taken off air on November 7 last, while management of the company conducted their own internal investigation into the incident.

However, a week later, the show had resumed its broadcasts.

Attempts yesterday to reach CCN’s chief executive officer, Shida Bolai, or CCN’s Head of News Dominic Kalipersad were unsuccessful.

TV6 last night reported the management had been cooperating with the police in the investigation.