DPP tells cops charge all 12 arrested

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Geoffrey Henderson, last night instructed the newly-formed Homicide Intelligence Unit to charge all 12 people arrested over the Independence weekend with kidnapping and murder charges. Three of them are to face charges of kidnapping/murder in connection with Curepe businessman, Dennis Jodhan. The 30-year-old Jodhan, whose body was found on December 28, 2002, was kidnapped from his Lyndon Street, Curepe, home for a $800,000 ransom on December 23, 2002. The remaining nine others held will face kidnapping charges. A farmer found Jodhan’s body on a road leading to an agricultural estate off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in Aranguez.  His hands were reportedly tied behind his back.  Investigations were carried out by acting Insp Dave Hillaire. Two of the men arrested were out on bail in connection with another kidnapping.  One of them is being held at the St Clair Criminal Investigations Department (CID), while the other is being detained at the Morvant CID.

Senior officers from both stations said the two men are being held on instructions from Homicide, and were deliberately being kept apart. The two men were re-arrested on Sunday evening when they went to report to a police station in North Trinidad. They were mandated to visit the police station between 1 and 5pm on Mondays and Fridays. They were among the 12 people arrested over the weekend. Senior police officials told Newsday that the other detainees were being held in connection with at least five kidnappings and other murders as well.
Police met last evening with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who gave instructions as to what  charges should be laid against the persons arrested. Sources said the Homicide Intelligence Unit was formed by acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs, Acting Commissioner of Police (Criminal Intelligence and Investigations) James Philbert and Homicide head, Sr Supt Nimrod, to gather information on underworld connections. Snaggs, together with Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Branch, Frank Diaz are in Barbados on an International Global Terrorism and Crime Management Conference.  Deputy Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul is acting for Snaggs.