T&T Police Service (TTPS) Legal Unit head Christian Chandler was granted $1 million bail Friday night.
Chandler was arrested at his Maraval home on Wednesday and taken to the Maloney Police Station where he was interviewed and later charged with five offences by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).
He was charged under section 3(1) (c) of the Emergency Powers (No 2) Regulations of 2021, which currently makes it an offence to be found at any beach, sea, river, stream, pond, spring or similar body of water for recreational purposes, he was also charged twice under section 206 of the Defence Force Act with wilfully obstructing members of the T&T Coast Guard, plus possession of a firearm without a Firearm User’s Licence (FUL) and possession of ammunition without a Firearm User’s Licence. Chandler was among 14 people detained aboard his vessel, Knot Guilty, off the coast of Chaguaramas and escorted to Staubles Bay by Coast Guard officers on August 5.
The T&T Coast Guard said it had received information that a pleasure craft allegedly had more than five people aboard, contrary to the public health regulations.
On August 16, Chandler proceeded on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Three Special Reserve Police (SRPs) along with other people, including several women on board the vessel were also arrested on Wednesday and were charged with breach of the Emergency Health Regulations regulations and for obstructing the Coast Guard personnel.
Chandler is scheduled to appear virtually before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on November 25.
