Former cop found guilty of rape at police station

The verdict against Harry Ramlochan, 65, of St Charles Village, Princes Town, was delivered by a nine-member jury, comprised of five men and four women, in the San Fernando High Court. The jury deliberated for almost three hours. The trial began on May 15 before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor.

The court heard that on May 5, 2011, the girl’s mother was taken inside the station by Ramlochan, who was then a 49-year-old acting sergeant.

Another police officer was assigned to take the mother’s report while the daughter remained in the veranda.

Ramlochan returned to where the girl was and started asking sex-related questions. He then went and asked her mother for permission to further question the daughter and she agreed.

The victim testified that Ramlochan led her to a dorm where he began making sexual advances towards her. After a colleague walked in and then out of the dorm, he took her to the court prosecutor’s office, then to a store to change a $100 bill, to the police canteen and back to the office. There he committed the act on “a piece of sponge” during which he pushed the girl against a cabinet and a wall causing injuries to her mouth. He then told her not to tell anyone about it. Ramlochan, the jurors were told, returned the victim to where her mother was and then transported them to their home. He took the girl’s father to a bar and warned him in relation to the report made against him. The rape was reported to police and Insp Christine Mc- Millan charged Ramlochan.

Defence attorneys Kevin Ratiram and Chris Ramlal represented him while attorney Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal and Sarah De Silva prosecuted on behalf of the State.

In his defence, Ramlochan testified that the girl had injuries to her mouth when she arrived at the station. He denied raping her. Yesterday, Ratiram told the court that his client joined the Police Service on June 1, 1972. He is a father of four, two of whom died, and grandfather of five.

The judge adjourned the matter to June 28 when she is expected to pass sentence.