Dismissed

Ex-Private Curt Bradley Samaroo, 23, and ex-Airman Chase Kevin Ramdath, 21, and the latter’s brother Chris Brent Ramdath, 23, all of Ecclesville, Rio Claro, were refused bail and remanded into custody by Rio Claro Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle.

The three were charged jointly for the offence and were not called upon to plead as the charges were laid indictably by WPC Gaffoor-Rattan. The charge read to the men in court was on January 12, they sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. A second charge read that the three committed acts of grievous sexual assault on the victim. And a third charge was that Samaroo, Chase and Chris unlawfully detained the girl against her will.

The accused men were charged on Monday evening. Court prosecutor Sgt Alexis Garcia requested that the men be traced to ascertain if they have previous and/or existing criminal cases. Earle-Caddle concurred with the prosecutor and ordered the three to be remanded into custody and at the same time ordering that a trace be conducted.

The case was adjourned to tomorrow when the issue of bail is expected to be dealt with.

A statement yesterday from the Civil Military Affairs Office, revealed that the two men were discharged from the Service with immediate effect for dishonourable conduct. Civil Military Affairs Officer, Major Al Alexander stated in the release: “The Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Kenrick Maharaj has made his intent clear regarding how he will treat with the two Defence Force members who were formally charged for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl of Rio Claro.”

The statement added that Brigadier General Maharaj stated that: “the two are to be discharged from the Defence Force with immediate effect. The former Army private and a Junior Technician at the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, both of Rio Claro, have less than two years under their respective Formations. The two former servicemen were discharged by order of the Chief of Defence Staff under provisions of the Defence Act Chapter 14:01.