Cop upbraided for disrespecting court

A policeman who arrested a man he was allegedly “horning,” turned his back on a female magistrate while she was admonishing him for his conduct in the matter and was further chided for his discourteous behaviour. The policeman who found himself in this unfortunate predicament was PC Anthony Remy of the St Joseph Police Station. Remy vehemently denied having an affair with the man’s wife, but the man insisted in court that the policeman is having an affair with his wife. The matter, which was heard last Thursday by Magistrate Indira Misir in the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court, could have been a scene from the local soap opera, Westwood Park.

According to the evidence presented in court, Kelvin Ibrahim, a proprietor of Maracas Valley, had allegedly lost  his wife Thelda, to PC Remy. The prosecution’s case was that on the morning of April 8, 2003, Ibrahim was at Curepe Junction when he saw his wife in a private car driven by Remy. Ibrahim went up to the car and allegedly cursed Remy. The policeman got out of the car and spoke to him and Ibrahim allegedly cursed him again. Remy then told Ibrahim he was going to arrest him and proceeded to place one side of his handcuffs on Ibrahim’s wrist. Ibrahim pulled away and resisted arrest. Remy said Ibrahim cuffed him in the chest and he had to lock the other side of the handcuff to the burglar-proofing on TTEC’s compound. Remy then called for help and a police jeep came and took Ibrahim away.

When Remy was putting Ibrahim into the jeep, Ricky Ramasar of Champ Fleurs, a painter with the Ministry of Works, came up to Remy, held his hand and told him to let the man go. Remy also arrested Ramasar and charged him with obstructing a police officer  in the execution of his duty. It later came out in court that Ramasar did not know Ibrahim. Ibrahim was slapped with three charges — obscene language, resisting arrest and assaulting Remy. Ibrahim and Ramasar were represented by Rangee Dolsingh SC. The charge against Ramasar was dismissed after a no-case submission by Dolsingh. Cpl Danny Perryman prosecuted the matter. Ibrahim told the court Remy was having an affair with his wife for sometime and was responsible for the strain on his marriage. He said before the Curepe incident he and his wife had separated. He said he had reported the interference in his marriage by Remy to the Police Complaints Authority, the Police Commissioner and to Remy’s wife. After making such complaints, Ibrahim said Remy threatened to deal with him.  

On the day in question, Ibrahim said he approached the car to speak to his wife because they had sometime earlier been discussing reconciliation. However, Remy got out of the car and threatened to arrest him. Ibrahim demanded to know what he would be arrested for, and Remy allegedly cursed Ibrahim and proceeded to arrest him. The magistrate dismissed two charges against Ibrahim but found him guilty on the obscene language charge. He was fined $750 or one month imprisonment. On conclusion of the case, the magistrate said she was disappointed with PC Remy. She found he used unreasonable force, and did not act professionally. She said, “You had an ulterior motive. I am disgusted that something like this case could come before the court. I hope there will be no recurrence.” While making these remarks, Remy turned his back to the magistrate as if about to leave, and she then scolded him for being disrespectful.