SENIOR Fraud Squad officers said yesterday that they are vigorously pursuing the investigation into the attempt to defraud TSTT of $4.7 million.
A Fraud Squad source revealed yesterday that investigators are leaving no stone unturned, and are exploring all possible leads to determine who may be responsible for the attempt to defraud TSTT. “We are keeping our options open, but after interviewing several persons we have been able to eliminate who may be of no assistance to the police,” said the source. Most of the workers interviewed by the police over the weekend in connection with the incident are members of the Communication Workers Union. Police have been able to secure the names of people to whom the transfers were issued and from what locations they were issued.
Last Friday, the three illegal transfers were discovered by the company’s finance personnel department. The transfers were stopped before they could be executed. Investigators revealed yesterday that a top forensic accounting expert may be called in to assist officers in the probe. In December last year, the Fraud Squad was called in to investigate $20 million in suspicious wire transfers from the company. Investigators seized a quantity of TSTT documents over the weekend and the documents were being reviewed yesterday as part of the investigation. Officers are hoping to make a breakthrough shortly.
MOMENTS after kidnap victim Avalon Paul was released by his captors early yesterday morning, he left to go to his Moruga home to ensure that his wife and children were okay. He then went to the police, reported his kidnapping and was whisked away by members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) to be interviewed.
Up to late yesterday evening, Paul was still being questioned by AKS police at CID Headquarters in Port-of-Spain. He was slashed about his face with a razor blade, beaten and then dragged into a car on Tuesday night by four masked, armed men who were searching for cocaine, which had washed ashore at Gran Chemin beach two Mondays ago. Police sources remained tip-lipped about details surrounding the release of Paul, saying only that he was dropped off along the Uriah Butler Highway around 3 am yesterday. Police suspect Paul was kidnapped because his abductors believed he knew the whereabouts of the cocaine.
Yesterday relatives told Newsday that after Paul was dropped off, he made his way home where he met his common-law-wife, Salisha Mohammed and their two children — Jameel, three, and Jamal 11 months. According to relatives, Paul’s face was caked in dried blood caused by deep slashes he suffered at the hands of his captors. He told relatives that he had been blindfolded, tied up and badly beaten by his abductors who kept questioning him about the cocaine. Paul was reported to be scared the kidnappers might come looking for him again. Paul then went to the Chaguanas police station where he reported the incident to police. He was taken for medical treatment at the Chaguanas District Health Centre. Police sources said Paul returned to the station where he was further interviewed by AKS officers, who then took him to Port-of-Spain.
The body of a man found at Trantril Road, Caroni, on Wednesday was identified yesterday as 36-year-old taxi-driver Lawrence Augustine. The body was identified by his relatives at the Forensic Science Centre. An autopsy carried out yesterday revealed that death was due to suffocation.
At Mason Street, Diego Martin, where Augustine lived, his sister Sommer told Newsday that her brother had no enemies and was not involved with any gang or illicit activities. According to Augustine, the last time she saw her brother alive was around 8 pm on Sunday when he left home to ply his car from Diego Martin to Port-of-Spain. She claimed that her brother was well known in the area and was known as “Gad” since he was a member of the 12 Tribe, a Rastafarian movement. The grieving woman said that her brother was seen by a neighbour driving his car around 3 am on Monday morning. The car had five passengers who appeared to have rasta hairstyles. She pointed out that when her brother failed to return home, everyone became worried and began praying for his safety.
On Monday, Sommer received a telephone call from the Mon Repos police station which revealed that the car was discovered intact in their district. They added that Augustine was nowhere to be found. The vehicle, a white Nissan B-13, was checked for prints. On both Monday and Tuesday, checks were carried out for him to no avail. On Wednesday, around 11.15 am, farmers on their way to a nearby rice field were alerted to a foul stench emanating from a drain. A check was made and the bloated body of a man with his hands tied to the front of his body was discovered. The St Joseph Police as well as homicide officers were alerted. The murdered taxi-driver’s mother, June Augustine, who is in the United States, is expected in the country on Saturday. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.
Government yesterday gave local poultry farmers exactly one week to reduce their prices “to an acceptable level” or else face the dire consequences of the removal of the surcharge on imported chicken.
Without the surcharge, which is currently 88 per cent, local producers would be unable to compete with imported chicken, which would be available at a much cheaper price. Legal Affairs Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, in making the announcement at a post-Cabinet conference, stressed that Government had no intention of damaging the poultry industry but stressed “that we have an overriding responsibility to ensure that consumers are not taken advantage of and that a cartel or monopoly does not develop in Trinidad and Tobago.” Robinson-Regis said the Ministries of Trade, Legal Affairs and Agriculture would determine what is an acceptable price level and would be monitoring what is taking place this week. She urged the media to also monitor what is happening with the prices. She said that unless the reductions were across the board by all producers, Government would implement the decision to remove the surcharge. She added that Government, in making its decision, considered the implications (of the removal of the surcharge) for the 10,000 employed in the industry. She stressed, however, that any removal of the surcharge would only be for a short period — just to get the price at an acceptable level.
Asked whether Government was employing “strong-arm tactics” and “interfering with the private sector,” Prime Minister Patrick Manning said that when Government imposed the surcharge (plus an additional import duty of 40 per cent) in order to protect the local industry, it never meant to create a monopoly situation in which the consumer was the net loser. “The minute therefore that the arrangement begins to work that way, it is working in a manner that is contrary to Government’s policy and the Government has a responsibility to act in the national interest,” he said. Noting that Government’s intervention (via the removal of the surcharge) would in effect be regulating the price of chicken, Manning said Government was determined to ensure that the price was at a reasonable level. He said the collapse of the local industry did not arise since Government was seeking to prevent “profiteering” rather than seeking to bring about the “collapse” of the local industry. Asked what would happen if consumers got so sweet on low prices during the period that the surcharge is removed that they (the consumers) agitate for the permanent removal of it, Robinson-Regis said that was a risk. But she stressed that Government’s aim is to act in the interest of all people, including those involved in the local poultry industry. (See page 6).
THE BULKY file in which at least three police officers and a car wrecking employee were implicated in a car switching scam is now with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson.
Acting Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul confirmed this yesterday, but did not want to say when the file reached the DPP’s office. The file reportedly could not be traced after Sr Supt Maurice Piggott, head of the Anti- Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) returned it for certain things to be “cleared up.” Newsday on Sunday carried a special report on the incident which occurred in August 2001. The incident involves the switching of a black Nissan Sunny, registration number, PAS 2455, which was reportedly stolen from the Santa Cruz Police Station on a Sunday night on the pretext that it was going to the Forensic Science Centre for testing. This has proven to be an untruth, since Yolanda Thompson, Director of the Forensic Science Centre, said the car in question never came to the station in the year 2001. The vehicle was in a very good condition when it was taken from the Santa Cruz station, lead investigator Insp Christopher Lewis said in his report, which was addressed to a Sr Supt in the North Eastern Division.
The vehicle was also an exhibit. It was found abandoned in Susconosco #1 by Sgt Mongal Hazarie, another officer who investigated the disappearence of the car. Three weeks after the black Nissan Sunny vehicle disappeared from the Santa Cruz Station, another vehicle purporting to be the same black Nissan Sunny was brought back to the Santa Cruz Station in a dilapidated condition. The number plate (PAS2455) of that vehicle was inside the vehicle, and it is also understood that illegal activities were carried out with the initial Nissan Sunny vehicle which was stolen from the Santa Cruz Police Station. Insp Lewis and Sgt Hazarie carried out independent investigations during which time several statements were recorded. Statements from junior officers state that they were instructed to write false information in station diaries relating to the vehicle’s movements.
A smiling Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell and two other men appeared before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls yesterday, charged with the kidnapping and murder of Curepe businessman Dennis Persad-Jodhan. However, Mc Nicolls warned reporters about the effects of pre-trial publicity after hearing complaints from attorneys representing the accused.
Lovell, 31, is jointly charged with Shawn “Gumbo” Vincent, 29, and Brent “Small Brent” Danglade, for kidnapping and murdering Dennis Jodhan. The trio were charged with another man, Jason Joseph, with falsely imprisoning Jodhan. Jodhan 30, was kidnapped from his home at Evans Street, Curepe, opposite his father’s business place, Dumplin’s Mini Mart. A ransom of $800,000 was demanded for his safe return. However, five days later his body was discovered on a road leading to an agricultural estate off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in Aranguez. “Skelly” was also charged along with Rondelle Roberts for kidnapping Ronald John, the brother of former UNC Government Minister Carlos John. John was abducted from his Petra Street home in Woodbrook on March 26, 2003. He was rescued by police at a house on Upper Fairley Street, Tunapuna. This kidnapping was carried out approximately five months after his first kidnapping on October 2, 2002.
Attorney for “Skelly” and “Gumbo,” Patrick Godson-Phillip said his clients were getting bad publicity,which, he thinks would affect their trial. “I am concerned about the statements made about one of my clients being the country’s most wanted. When both were in custody two weeks ago, they knew nothing of the charges laid yesterday. They were then released on bail. Now they are being charged with murder. There is something that is definitely amiss in this matter.” Godson-Phillips then requested that Chief Magistrate Mc Nicolls allow him to ask the Director of Public prosecutions if he can have the matter transferred to the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court. “The DPP has no jurisdiction to do so,” Mc Nicolls replied. Wayne Sturge, Attorney for Rondelle Roberts made an application for bail stating that his client had no previous convictions but McNicolls denied bail pending a tracing of Robert’s criminal records. Jason Joseph, who is being represented by Kenneth Thompson, was also denied bail pending tracing. “Skelly,” “Gumbo” and Danglade are being remanded in custody until September 9, when they would appear before a Tunapuna magistrate. They would also appear before the Port-of-Spain magistrate along with Roberts and Joseph on September 11, 2003.
Cuban doctors have been at the service of patients at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital this week, and language is not a problem.
‘A su servicio’ (at your service) best describes Dr Emilio Wood, a neurosurgeon and Dr Ulises Castillo Sanz, a specialist in Internal Medicine when I caught up with them yesterday outside Ward 53, where patients with complications and those who have been transferred from the Intensive Care Unit are warded. The patients and family members were happy to see the welcoming faces of the Cuban doctors and to talk to them about the condition of their relatives. Both Dr Castillo Sanz and Dr Wood praised the work being done by local doctors. He said he is still getting familarised with the “documentation” used for patients and said he is adapting to the system and the medico-legal forms used. He said TT doctors are good in the management of patients. Dr Sanz said they have made him feel welcome and showed solidarity with him. He admitted that the other doctors have been assisting when he cannot understand the Creole spoken by patients. Dr Sanz will spend two weeks at Ward 53 before being sent to work in another area. His colleague Dr Wood said he has assisted in surgery on a patient with a broken spine. He said the Head of the neuro surgery department who led the operation is “very good.”
Five Cuban nurses are working at the ten-bed Intensive Care unit at PoSGH, and two at the Accident and Emergency department. Five other nurses started work at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex yesterday, while two have been assigned to Princes Town District Hospital. They are part of the first batch who arrived in TT on July 24. All of the Cubans, six doctors and 30 nurses should be placed at health facilities by this weekend, a senior Health Ministry official said on Wednesday. The second batch of doctors and nurses are expected to begin work soon. He said they will undergo their English assessment tomorrow followed by two weeks of on-the-job orientation at various health facilities. Their accommodations are still being finalised but the Cubans should be out of The Normandie hotel next week. The official said the doctors will be out to work before the nurses. Several of them are assigned to work in rural areas as the Ministry attempts to reduce the number of people travelling to San Fernando, Port-of-Spain and Chaguanas for treatment.
THE SUGAR workers and Canefarmers Action Committee is leaving nothing to chance in their quest for land for displaced sugar workers.
The committee’s Chairman, Ashton Ramsundar, will lead a delegation that will present filled-out application forms to Prime Minister Patrick Manning. The presentation will be made today at 3.00 pm. Meanwhile, all Caroni (1975) Ltd VSEP workers are invited to attend two free lectures on the National Insurance Scheme on September 9 and 11 respectively. The first lecture will be held at the Hindu Credit Union Office on the Solomon Hochoy Highway, Carlsen Field, Chase Village. The second will take place at the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union Hall, Marabella. Both lectures will start at 4 pm. National Insurance Consultant, Hubert Dolsingh, will be the facilitator at both sessions.
Convicted attorney-at-law Jagdeo Singh wants out of a cell that he is now occupying with two other criminals.
Singh, a convicted felon, was successful yesterday in getting High Court judge Justice Alan Mendonca to order Commissioner of Prisons Leo Abraham to remove him from a cell occupied by two other convicts. The application was argued by attorneys Dana Seetahal and Rikki Harnanan. Singh, who was sentenced to seven years on corruption charges, was moved on June 3, 2003, from a single-unit cell to another cell with two prisoners which included a man charged with manslaughter and another convicted of a narcotic-related crime.
Singh, who objected to the transfer, levelled several charges against the Commissioner of Prisons. Singh said that the transfer was contrary to law and in excess of the Commissioner’s jurisdiction. His attorneys’ arguments before Justice Mendonca was that Abraham’s decision amounted to a breach of natural justice and an abuse of his power.
Justice Mendoca made an interim order instructing Abraham to immediately remove Singh from the present cell with two other inmates and put him in a cell by himself in the maximum security prison.
The judge will later hear substantial arguments on the judicial review proceedings brought by Singh challenging the decision of Abraham to remove him from his cell and place him in a cell with others. Jagdeo was sentenced to two seven-year terms of imprisonment to run concurrently on corruption charges. He challenged his conviction before the Court of Appeal and lost and has since petitioned the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which has deemed the matter fit to be heard during the court’s vacation.
FRAUD Squad detectives yesterday charged a pastor and a female employee of the Judiciary/Magistracy with uttering a dishonoured cheque and larceny of $1,000 respectively, police sources told Newsday.
The information relating to both charges were laid yesterday in the Couva and Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court by the Fraud Squad. The pastor, who recently proposed a Crime Plan for the nation and was very talkative and outspoken during a recent kidnapping incident, is due to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on November 19, while the 33-year-old court employee is listed to appear before a Couva Magistrate on September 12. Both were charged by way of summons because of their positions in society, police sources said.
In the case of the pastor, police said in January of this year a Port-of-Spain company did work for him amounting to over $300,000. Police sources said in March of this year, the Pastor made a part payment in the sum of $52,758. The Royal Bank, Indepen-dence Square cheque was drawn on the account of the Pastor’s church. However, it was returned dishonoured. A report was made late last month and investigations, spearheaded by Sr Supt Wellington Virgil, were carried out by Cpl Loderick Marcelle. The Pastor was questioned yesterday. In the other matter involving the court official, the charge states that the woman being a Clerk of Servant, employed with the Jud-iciary/Magistracy of Trinidad and Tobago, stole the sum of $1,000 in cash received by virtue of her employment. Police sources said the incident occurred on June 25, 2002. The discovery was made while an accounting assistant was doing a daily routine check. The accounting assistant is reported to have noticed a voucher reflecting that there was a $1,450 payment to a person who was supposed to collect a maintenance sum of $450.
