Although the police had collected some 40 statements in their case against Shaka Chase, who they charged with killing police corporal Romein Cleto and wounding two other ranks, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that the charge be withdrawn because the evidence was insufficient to identify the shooter or accomplices.
Yesterday, similar instructions were given in relation to a second suspect held in the matter.
DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, in a statement to Stabroek News yesterday, said, “A perusal of all the statements contained in the above mentioned matter [State v Shaka Chase] of almost 40 statements revealed that the information gathered during the investigations was insufficient to properly identify the shooter and/or his accomplices.”
Chase was charged on Monday with murder after being arrested last week Thursday. He was set free two days ago by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry when he made his second appearance in the George-town Magistrate’s Court. The police prosecutor did not state the grounds cited by the DPP to have the charge withdrawn.
Some time yesterday, the DPP also advised the police to withdraw a similar charge against Riverview, Ruimveldt resident Reagan Rodrigues.
His grandmother, Veronica Rodrigues, told Stabroek News last evening that about seven policemen had turned up at the 33-year-old man’s mother-in-law’s house, located in same area, around 2 pm on Monday. She said a gun was placed to the woman’s head and the police indicated to her that they were there for “Grey Boy”. “Grey Boy” is Rodrigues’ alias and was reportedly named in a statement which Chase said he was forced to sign after allegedly being tortured into confessing that he had shot the policemen.
Veronica said yesterday a police officer from “South station” called and informed Rodrigues’ sister that “the DPP free him.” She said when they later collected him, he was free of bruises and he told them that he was not ill-treated while in police custody.
She told this newspaper that while she was happy that he had been released, she was disappointed at the actions of the police, especially since he was at home at the time the murder was committed. The woman said that on that day her grandson was on his bridge speaking to a female police officer when the woman received a telephone call that a policeman had just been shot.
“I don’t understand how he could be shooting the police and talking on the bridge at the same time,” the elderly woman told this newspaper.
“I wouldn’t have gotten to see him [if he was placed before the court]. It would tek years for he case to come up,” the woman said.
Meanwhile Veronica said the attorney they had paid to look into Rodrigues’ interest is refusing to give them back the $15,000 he took on Thursday when Rodrigues was scheduled to make his first appearance. The woman said when she approached the attorney at court yesterday he told her Rodrigues, “ain’t come yet and he ain’t able wait no more”.
The woman said when she inquired from him what will happen if he does appear, the attorney responded “call me” before driving off. She said the attorney visited Rodrigues once and never showed any real interest in his well-being. “Even if he give me $10, 000 I wouldn’t mind. But I am a poor woman,” she stressed.
No advice before
charges laid
As in the case of Chase, the police had made no attempt to seek the advice of the DPP before charges were instituted against Rodrigues.
Efforts to contact police officials, including acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell on this and on the investigations into the torture allegations, were futile.
A security expert explained that there is nothing which states that the police must seek legal advice before instituting charges. It was explained that the police sometimes just do this as a precaution. If that file reaches the DPP’s chambers, the advice given is often what the charge should be, or whether additional investigations ought to be conducted.
There have been several high-profile cases in the past where charges were instituted before the file was sent to the DPP.
One such was the Lethem arms bust last year.
On April 27, Cleto was shot dead while constables Randy Daly and Anil Rajpersaud were injured when gunmen opened fire on them on Avenue of the Republic in the vicinity of Regent Street.
The ranks at the time were on a routine patrol when they reportedly spotted a suspicious white car on Avenue of the Republic in the vicinity of Robb Street.
The occupants did not heed the police’s instruction to stop and were eventually forced to halt at the traffic light on the opposite side of the road.
It was as the policemen were making their way to the car on foot that the occupants opened fire. Based on ballistics results two weapons, including a rifle, were used in the shooting.
