Last night, Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, told us that he is investigating the police constable who refused to cooperate with the police prosecutor during the criminal trial of Minister of State Mark King.
He said that he didn't believe the officer acted appropriately, and it seems that the officers of the Professional Standards Branch, which he dispatched earlier this week, have found evidence to support this.
This evening, the Police Press Office released information that Police Constable #1021 Nelson Ramos was charged with disciplinary charges, and he has been placed on immediate interdiction. The matter has been adjourned until next week Wednesday, when he must appear before the Regional Commander, Superintendent Joseph Myvette, who will adjudicate the case.
That's very swift action, in line with Commissioner Whylie's promise that Mark King's accelerated acquittal will be taken seriously, and attorney Arthur Saldivar – who also wears an opposition hat - supports him on it.
He spoke to us this evening about what he believes is a sign that King, who is an elected official, was given preferential treatment.
Here's how he explained it:
Arthur Saldivar - Attrorney
"Where there is a criminal offence alleged against a person - it is the state that is the actual party that is carrying out the prosecution and it is the state that is wrong - not the particular individual. What is disturbing about this particular case is that this is an officer of the state, a police officer who has withdrawn, so I commend Commissioner Whylie and his efforts. The reality is however that the prosecution of Mark King in relation to those allegations is over. But what is even more disturbing is that the prosecutor in the case, also a police officer, they would have had advanced notice because we're not talking about the police officer leaving the country - he has not deceased or in any way incapacitated of unable to go and give evidence. There could have been application made where he subpoenaed to come to court and treat as a hostile witness - his statement which is on the record could have then been used to challenge him with, 'you made this statement at the time you made this statement you understood what you were saying, you read the statement before you signed it and this is what you meant' and that could have been the means through which prosecution could have continued if the state wanted to prosecute the matter."
The Opposition PUP sent out a statement today saying that Tuesday's outcome in the Corozal Magistrate's Court only serves to strengthen the conviction of the public that the justice system is lax.
It calls on all relevant bodies, including the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to get involved take action to correct the circumstances surrounding Mark King's acquittal.
We asked DPP Vidal this evening if her office was consulted at any time during this trial, and she told us that they weren't consulted. She added that since the head of the prosecution branch is a trained attorney, and is assumed to be extremely competent, her office did not get involved.
