One of two accused cops on $100,000 bail

All eight accused appeared before Magistrate Deborah Quintyne in the Arima First Magistrates’ Court where they were read the charges for kidnapping and false imprisonment of the two brothers, who were snatched while in the Valencia area one week ago.

Standing before Quintyne were special reserve police officers Devon Sam and Jessie James, both attached to the West End Division. Also charged are Darren Paynter, Anthony Smith, Dirk Farnum, Delano Cyrus, Terry Wilson and Kerron Toppin. The first charge read to the accused men stated that between the period June 27 and July 4, at Mc Carthy Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas, they falsely imprisoned Ronald and Richard Nath.

The other charge read that on June 27, at Ambazar Road, Wallerfield, Arima, the men unlawfully carried away the bodies of the brothers for ransom. Both charges were laid indictably.

Toppin was charged separately for possession of a .38 revolver and six rounds of .38 ammunition on July 3. His charges were also laid indictably.

When the issue of bail arose, police prosecutor Lindon Greenidge wasted little time in objecting to bail, stating the prevalence of the offence as his main reason for raising objection.

"Due to the serious nature of the offence, I ask that bail not be granted. Regardless of what work these men are involved in, I respectfully ask that bail not be granted in this instance," said the prosecutor.

Farnum’s attorney, Yassen Ali made light of the prosecution’s objection, deeming it as a "weak attempt."

"If ever there has been a weak objection, this has to be it. Let us be reasonable and come with proper grounds. Perhaps if he said they were flight risks I might try to understand. But this is not the case. For as long as I could remember, kidnapping is a bailable offence, and should be treated as such. There is simply no good reason to deny bail, Your Worship," said Ali.

However the police prosecutor, in his bid to convince Quintyne, further reminded that one of the police officers, James, has a pending matter before the court. The prosecutor also told the magistrate that the accused men had not yet been traced.

Following deliberation, the magistrate granted bail to Sam in the sum of $100,000 to cover both charges. The other accused persons, including the other police officer, were denied bail pending a tracing.

The men will reappear in the Arima Court for the kidnapping charge on July 13. The false imprisonment matter was transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court and will come up for hearing on July 11.