A 35-year-old prisons officer held for stealing a set of keys for the Port-of-Spain State Prison remained in police custody up to late yesterday, as detectives continue to build a case against him. The officer, who has more than four years service, was detained by Port-of-Spain CID detectives after the missing keys were found at his St Helena home on Friday.
According to reports, the officer, who was last assigned to the prison’s west wing, left with the bunch of keys after his shift ended on Thursday evening. His colleagues attempted to contact him on his cellphone when they realised the keys had not been lodged with the facility’s sentry, but he did not answer.
When questioned by his superiors as he reported for duty on Friday afternoon, the officer initially claimed he did not have the set of keys. However, when police were contacted and they went to his home and carried out a search they were recovered.
Police sources said investigators would approach the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later this week, once they have completed taking statements from the officer’s relatives and co-workers. They are said to be considering charges of larceny of the keys and for misbehaviour in public office.
The T&T Guardian understands that since the incident, security measures at the over 200-year-old correctional facility on Frederick Street in Port-of-Spain have been increased, including more frequent police patrols. Speaking about the matter on Saturday, both acting National Security Minister Stuart Young and Prisons Officers’ Association president Ceron Richards called for the locks in the affected area to be immediately replaced. Prison Service public relations officer Wendell Bompart, however, could not confirm whether the precautionary measure had been done.
On July 24 last year, three prisoners —Allan “Scanny” Martin, Christopher “Monster” Selby and Hassan Atwell—staged a daring escape from the prison.
Armed with two guns and a hand grenade, the men forced their way outside through the main gate used by visitors and prison officers. The fugitives shot at a group of police officers who were on patrol at the time, fatally wounding 27-year-old constable Sherman Maynard. The trio car-jacked a passer-by and dropped the grenade, which did not detonate.
The trio crashed the stolen car a short distance away and Martin, who was on trial for the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman at the time, was shot dead at the Port of Spain General Hospital by police who responded to the report of the escape. Atwell was found shot dead in East Dry River two days later. Twenty four hours later, Selby surrendered to police.