(Trinidad Guardian) Three former members of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) were charged with misbehaviour in public office last night.
Police confirmed that dismissed former director Major Roger Best was not charged though, as investigations into allegations of misconduct against him are ongoing.
However, Best’s religious advisor, self-professed spy Pastor Ian Brown, along with Portell Griffith, a former security supervisor, and Sgt Sherwin Waldron, a tactical operations officer, were charged.
The men, along with Best, were arrested last week before they were released on the weekend.
However, Guardian Media understands that following legal instructions, investigating officers moved to charge the trio last evening.
In March, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley advised that Best would be sent on administrative leave before appointing former US Ambassador, retired Brigadier General Anthony Phillips-Spencer, to take over the agency. Phillips-Spence is still undertaking a probe of the SSA’s operations.
Best was fired on Saturday, three days after he and the three others were arrested and questioned in relation to state-issued firearms.
At a media briefing on Sunday on his return from India, Prime Minister Rowley said the Government was “blindsided” by allegations of wrongdoing within the SSA.
“Some of what has been unearthed in this investigation has been quite troublesome, with impressions of criminal conduct,” the PM said.
He added: “We expect that we will rectify and return the agency to its purpose.”