Licks from police

These were the complaints given to Magistrate Kerri Honore-Narine, just after midday yesterday .

Although the four were brought early to the courthouse at St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, a shortage of court staff led to them appearing hours later. The four - Christian Huggins, 19; Miguel Collins, 18; Dion Guillard, 21; and a 17-year-old were remanded into custody as a report on a criminal background check on the four, was not available .

They will return to court tomorrow after the magistrate ordered that they be taken to receive medical treatment. The 17-year-old was remanded at the Youth Training Centre in Arouca, while the others will be taken to prison .

They have all been charged with falsely imprisoning Harvey on June 12, at the St Martin de Porres RC Church in Belmont and robbing him of a Longines wrist watch, a Samsung S67 cellular phone and 1,000 in cash, using personal violence after the robbery. They were also charged for breaking and entering the place of worship with intent to commit an illegal act .

Among the complaints of the men was that they were made to sign a document which they were unable to read. Prosecutor Sgt Azard Ali noted that it was passing strange that after one complaint was made, the accused “all of a sudden” claimed to be having been beaten. The men’s complaints were recorded by the magistrate who advised their attorneys to raise the matter with the other magistrate who will hear the case .

The four were arrested last Friday by officers of the Port of Spain Division. The men are from East Dry River, Laventille and Gonzales .

They were represented by attorneys Ronald Daniels, Sheldon Guerra and Chelsea John .

Police said that at 5 am on Monday June 12, Harvey was outside the church when he was accosted by gunmen who ordered Harvey into the presbytery. The priest was tied up and the presbytery ransacked. During the ordeal, Harvey was threatened .