A 46-year-old police inspector detained last Thursday into alleged money laundering probe has filed a lawsuit challenging his continued detention.
Attorneys representing the officer, who cannot be named as he has not been charged with any criminal offence, yesterday filed a writ of habeas corpus calling on detectives of the Fraud Squad to justify his lengthy detention.
The case comes up for hearing in the Port-of-Spain High Court at 2 pm today.
According to his affidavits filed in support of his claim, the officer, who has almost 25 years’ service, contends that his arrest was illegal as it stemmed from a search warrant in his wife’s name.
His wife has also been arrested as part of the probe, which allegedly initiated by reports from her former employer.
The officer, who was last assigned to the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) also claimed that detectives of the Fraud Squad and Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) did not properly execute the warrant at his home in Princes Town, last Thursday.
The inspector also sought to give an explanation for the large quantity of jewelry found in his home and for how he came to own the two vehicles that were also seized.
“I informed the officers of the various means through which I acquired ownership of these items of jewelry which included by savings over the years, gifts received, in particular, I would have explained the cultural practice of how gold is passed down from generation to generation in East Indian families, such as mine, and it would be melted to make beeras that were also passed down from generation to generation,” he said.
The officer is contending that his lengthy detention is damaging his character and unblemished service record.
The officer is being represented by Jagdeo Singh, Criston Williams and Kiel Tacklalsingh.