It was one of the most scandalous acts ever shown on TV when in March of 2002 police personnel were caught on a security camera seen shaking down a Chinese grocer.
23 months later the trial of the one police constable and three special constables started in the Magistrate's Court. Defended by attorney Simeon Sampson, Vladimir Ortega, Jesus Dominguez, Filomena Badillo, Cornelio Andueza appeared before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord accused of robbery and common assault.
PC Ken Emmanuel who responded to the call of rogue activity testified today. Tomorrow the victim of the crime, shop owner Dennis Chow is expected to testify.
While the case proceeds, we note that there is some question as to whether the famous videotape which seems to implicate the officers will be admissible as evidence. Why? Well because of a technical detail called the chain of custody of evidence - which means that it is not clearly known who has the tape, who copied it, or where it is apart from here at Channel 7 which would not stand as evidence.