Six face court for willful trespass and common assault

Six men will appear virtually before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate in a virtual hearing today, to answer to the charges of wilful trespass and common assault.

Six men will appear virtually before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate in a virtual hearing today, to answer to the charges of willful trespass and common assault.

Official police reports state that the men were slapped with the charges yesterday, Thursday 27th August 2020, after being arrested on Monday 24th August 2020.

Scheduled to go before a Port of Spain Magistrate today, are:

  • Two residents of George Street, Port-of-Spain—AKEEM WORREL aka ‘KEEM’, and CLEVON MICHAEL MCLEOD aka ‘Snuggles’; and
  • Three residents of Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain—HAYDEN LICORISH aka ‘Pain’, SHAKEEL GONZALES aka ‘Bandit’, and ANDY GORKIN.

A sixth man, JAFARI DICKSON aka ‘Fari’ (also of Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain), was charged with common assault in connection with the trespass case and will appear with the other five men.

A release from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) explains that the men were charged under the Trespass (Amendment) Act, 2019.

The arrests followed several weeks of investigations by a team of officers of the Central Intelligence Bureau (CIB) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). The probe led officers to the HDC Planning situated on George Street, Port-of-Spain, which the suspects were said to be occupying illegally.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) also assisted with the investigations, which substantiated the alleged unlawful trespass.

According to the TTPS release, a resident had reported that the alleged offences would have been committed in April 2019, when he was at home at George Street, Port-of-Spain.

The resident alleged that he was approached by a man who pointed a gun at him and made death threats. As a result, the resident vacated the premises, which the suspects subsequently occupied illegally.

Since its amendment, this is the first time persons have been charged under the Act.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), CIB, Wendell Williams, says:

“The TTPS intends to use this Act more widely. It is a tool in combating this type of crime that has become prevalent in some communities including where gangs exist.”

He added: “We can expect to see more persons being pursued and charged for these offences in similar cases.”

CNC3 Editor
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CNC3 Editor

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