Cops quiz German on gun

A German diplomat’s husband was questioned by police yesterday after he was found in a car at Wallerfield with a gun for which he did not have a firearm user’s licence. No charges were laid against Frediico De Salazar Arguello up to late yesterday evening. His wife, Monica De Salazar, who is the Third Secretary at the German Embassy in Port-of-Spain, and to whom the gun belongs, described her husband’s interrogation by police “as a breach of diplomatic immunity.” In an immediate response, Monica said: “Police are not supposed to ask him to get out of the car, search, or arrest him.” She added that the gun belongs to her, and that her husband was in her car, “No, no. He does not hold a position at the embassy. He is my husband.” She said that she had referred the matter to the Foreign Affairs ministry.

Carl Francis, Chief of Protocol at Foreign Affairs said spouses of diplomats have the same privileges and immunity as diplomats. “Normally, they are not searched. There is no issue here, and the firearm is licenced,” he said. However, he added that Monica should have taken the gun out of the vehicle, and that if police officers were aware of who De Salazar was, they would not have searched him. TT laws state that anyone who carries a gun must have a licence to do so, or in default face a fine or jail term. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Strategic Planning and Development) Trevor Paul, however, told Newsday that the matter will be investigated and properly assessed, and action will be taken “where it is deemed fit.”
Senior officers said it is a case of “impunity vs immunity” and that it is about the third instance of this kind for the year thus far, referring to a situation where the wife of a diplomat allegedly bit a teacher while officers of the Four Roads Police Station were verbally abused by another relative of yet another diplomat.

Police sources told Newsday that around 10.30 am yesterday officers from the Emergency-999 were on patrol duty when they noticed a Suzuki Vitera vehicle parked in the vicinity of the Racing Circuit, Wallerfield. Police said the officers approached the vehicle and saw German-born Frediico De Salazar Arguello. According to reports, the E-999 officers asked him what he was doing there, and whether he had anything illegal in his possession. Senior officers said De Salazar replied in the affirmative and produced a firearm. He then claimed that he was the husband of a diplomat and accompanied the E-999 officers to the La Horquetta Police Station to verify his statements. Police sources told Newsday the information was checked and proved to be accurate, and De Salazar was allowed to leave the police station. However, senior officers said while no charges were laid against the man, they will consider writing to the Commis-sioner of Police to ask Monica De Salazar to be more careful. German Ambassador Ulrich Nitzschke is on vacation and his successor Erik Pintrup was not in office all of yesterday, therefore they could not be reached for comment.