(Trinidad Express) A police officer with eight years’ service appeared before the court charged with obtaining money by false pretences after allegedly selling a ring.
Constable Gina Ali faced two charges before Siparia magistrate Margaret Alert on Monday.
It was alleged that on July 25 2018, at Erin Road, Siparia with intent to defraud, she obtained from Devanand Subnaik TT$700 by falsely pretending she paid for a gold ring with diamonds and was entitled to sell it.
It was also alleged that two days later at Coora Road, Siparia she obtained TT$300 from Subnaik under the same circumstances.
The charges were laid by corporal Ramlal.
Police prosecutor Sgt Starr Jacob said Ali was a police officer and therefore the Director Public Prosecutions (DPP) will have to take charge of the case. A State attorney will have to be appointed to prosecute in the matters.
Defence attorney Chris Ramlal said his client was arrested at 10 a.m. last week Thursday and was charged at midnight on Friday. He said while police officers have been charged in the past with more serious offences and were afforded bail at the police station, his client was not granted bail after she was charged. Ramlal said while he knew it was at the police’s discretion to grant bail at the station, but his client remained in custody.
Alert said his concerns had been noted.
In a bid for bail, Ramlal said Ali, of Siparia, was last attached to the Siparia police station and had no pending or previous convictions or disciplinary matters.
Jacob made no objection to bail but said instructions had been given by superiors that a request be made that as a condition of bail, Ali report to the police station and surrender her passport.
Alert however said that the conditions were unnecessary and, with the absence of a good reason, it may amount to oppression.
Ali was placed on $50,000 bail with the condition that she has no contact either directly or indirectly with the alleged victim. She was also given a cash alternative bail of $30,000.
She will return to court on May 13.