Fifth Person Charged In Police Extra Duty Racket.

An Avocat man was granted bail in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars when he appeared before a San Fernando Magistrate on Monday charged with conspiracy to defraud the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

SATESH RAMSAMOOJ, 25, a labourer, of Kuldip Trace, was charged with the offence following advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, on September 18^th, 2021.

He appeared before San Fernando First Court Senior Magistrate, Armina Deonarine, on Monday was granted bail and the matter postponed to October 4th 2021.

On June 24^th , 2021, officers of the Tableland Police Station, reportedly stopped the accused while he was allegedly driving a marked police vehicle bearing false number plates, while escorting two trailer trucks belonging to a company.

The accused was the lone occupant of the marked police vehicle.

Police Constable Videsh Oudit, 32, attached to the Guapo Police Station, had reportedly represented himself to the company the day before, as being a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service who was authorised to conduct transactions related to police extra-duties in the South Western Division.

Investigations revealed that Ramsamooj was not a member of the TTPS and was allegedly assisting PC Oudit in relation to performing the extra duty.

Ramsamooj was arrested on September 19^th, 2021 and charged by Acting Corporal Smith, of the Professional Standards Bureau on Monday.

PC Oudit was previously charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and ten counts of misbehaviour in public office, arising out of a similar extra duty racket.

Two other police officers, namely Inspector Dean Antoine, 53, of Petit Bourg; PC Vishal Heeralal, 28, of South Oropouche; and civilian Shane Veesh Heeralal, 28, of Fyzabad, were also jointly charged with offences arising out of the racket.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Mc Donald Jacob, said while five persons have so far been arrested, the investigations into this extra duty racket, are far from over.

He said based on information and evidence adduced so far, other persons, including police officers, can be arrested and charged.