Crime Chief Seelall Persaud is appealing to witnesses in the murder of police corporal Romein Cleto to come forward, while saying that the evidence that led them to charge Shaka Chase looked clear-cut.
“There are other persons of interest and we are appealing for witnesses. A number of people would have seen what happened…,” Persaud told Stabroek News in the wake of the release of two suspects based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack.
Chase, who police charged with Cleto’s murder, was freed after the DPP reviewed the evidence. The DPP, in a statement to this newspaper, later said that a perusal of almost 40 statements revealed that the information gathered during the investigations was “insufficient to properly identify the shooter and/or his accomplices.”
Police have come under heavy criticism for charging Chase before seeking the advice of the DPP, especially in the light of allegations by him that he was tortured to sign a confession. Persaud, explaining why police laid the charge without seeking guidance from the DPP, said that the maximum 72-hour period for him to be held without charge had expired over the weekend while he was in custody. In addition to that, he said, there was evidence from “the girl, gun powder and his confession.
“It looked clear-cut [so] we went ahead and charge,” he said before pointing out that “sending it [the file] for advice later is not unusual.” He noted that there have been other cases where charges are laid and the file sent to the DPP for advice after. Persaud explained that in the case of rape and fraud matters, the file is sent to the DPP before charges are laid and in these instances the suspects would not be in custody.
Persaud pointed out that based on what was in the press, the DPP was in possession of statements from Chase’s attorney Nigel Hughes, “which we didn’t have at the time.” Based on what Persaud told this newspaper, 40 statements were not contained in the file that the police sent to the DPP for advice.
Persaud also noted yesterday that there were three other ranks with Cleto at the time of the shooting and he said investigators would have interviewed them but “they had to be bring them back a few times” since there were conflicting statements.
Chase had alleged that he was tortured into confessing while in police custody. Ranks were accused of beating and electro-shocking Chase. Following the intervention of his attorney, he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.
Persaud said yesterday that he could not say if the allegations of torture were being looked at. He indicated that he had just returned from a meeting in Brazil and had not been able to check on this aspect of the case.
Persaud also clarified that contrary to an earlier Stabroek News report, no charge was laid against the second suspect, Reagan Rodrigues, called ‘Grey Boy,’ who was also freed based on the DPP’s advice.
Rodrigues was arrested last Monday afternoon at his mother-in-law’s home, located in Riverview Ruimveldt.
Relatives had been told on Thursday that Rodrigues was charged with murder and would have been taken to court. However, before the planned arraignment, the case file was sent to the DPP and the advice not to charge was given.
One of the state’s closed circuit television cameras, located in the vicinity of the shooting, did not capture anything useful.
Asked for his opinion on the possible review of the locations of the cameras, Persaud said there is nothing that can “cover Georgetown fully.”
He said persons intervene in the technical aspect to define the area of focus that could maximise the benefits of the cameras.
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.
