Moonilal calls on PCA Director to investigate collusion between members of TTPS and certain politicians

Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling on PCA Director David West to investigate the workings and conduct of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service with regards to an ongoing investigation in which he says appears to be a collusion between some element/elements in the service and certain politicians holding high office who are bent on using the service for what he terms a surreptitious attempt to undermine, defame and malign political opponents.

The former Minister of Housing & Urban Development, through his Attorney Israel Khan, SC, wrote to West today to draw his attention to a CCN broadcast of June 2 2017
during which journalist Mark Basant reported that he (Moonilal) had been named as part of an investigation involving five contractors and that a search warrant to which he had been named. Dr Moonilal says up to today, he has not been approached by any police officer in relation to this matter whatsoever.

Dr Moonilal’s Attorney also advised the PCA Director that his client had written to the Commissioner of Police on June 7 2017 to complain that Moonilal was being deprived due process and expressed concern about the manner in which the alleged investigation was being conducted and had requested the basic information to which he was entitled. Dr Moonilal said that he has not had the courtesy of a response to his letter from the CoP.

Khan also referred West to statements made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at Piarco International Airport on September 1 2017 when he told the media that Moonilal “has questions to answer about the handling of public monies and for which information was provided in a court and the court being so satisfied allowed warrants to be issued”
Khan also told West that his client wrote the CoP on September 5 2017 again asking for due process and there has also been no response to that letter.

Khan told the PCA Director that further evidence of political influence and collusion with the Police came to light in the House of Representatives on October 12 2017 when PNM MP for Arouca/Maloney Camille Robinson Regis read into the records a police search warrant in which mention was made of Dr Moonilal’s alleged involvement in serious criminal offenses.

Khan told West that he is of the view that there are elements in the police service who are involved in an abuse and corruption of their powers and are working in tandem with the holders of high government office in order to lend police support to a concerted effort at the attempted political assassination of Dr Moonilal.

Calling it a very serious and unfortunate development which is a very unfortunate circumstance for the country, Khan reminded the PCA Director that the police service is too important an institution and part of the “glue” that holds the country together for selfish persons driven by malintent to so use and undermine the service in the eyes of the public.

Khan drew West’s attention to his statutory powers to Section 21 of the Police Complaints Act Chapter 15:05 to:

investigate criminal offenses involving officers, police corruption and serious police misconduct;

undertake inquiries into, or audits of, any aspect of police activities for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is police corruption or serious police misconduct or circumstances that may be conducive to both.

Khan said he was of the view that the placing of alleged police information and a warrant in the hands of the media, senior politicians and the government amounts to police misconduct and corruption and called for a swift investigation in order that public confidence in the police service and by extension, the justice system may be preserved.

He asked the PCA Director to appreciate the importance of this issue and the statutory remit of the Police Complaints Authority and also told him he was looking forward to his response.

He also advised West that Dr Moonilal stand ready to assist the PCA in relation to all reasonable requests.