Six men — including two police officers — have been discharged of a series of serious child trafficking and sexual offence charges after the State failed to provide the minimum required evidence at a High Court sufficiency hearing.
Those freed are Insp Rajesh Gokool, PC Richard Lalbeharry, Vicash Ramtahal, Andrew George, Matthew Ross, and Julio Perez.
The group had been facing an extensive list of indictable allegations, including counselling a gang, trafficking a child for exploitation through recruiting, transporting, transferring and harbouring, receiving benefits from child trafficking, sexual penetration of a child, and misbehaviour in public office.
Ramtahal also faced an additional charge of paying for sexual services of a child.
The matter was heard yesterday before Master Margaret Sookraj-Goswami. However, before the sufficiency assessment could proceed, State prosecutor Danielle Thompson requested an extension of time, explaining that she had encountered “various difficulties” and was unable to file the prosecution’s final written submissions by the court-ordered deadline.
Thompson also indicated that the State intended to re-open the case to tender new evidence specifically addressing the ages of the alleged victims.
Defence attorneys for all six accused strongly objected, arguing that the State had already been granted previous extensions and had still failed to meet its obligations. Kevin Ratiram, representing Insp Gokool, reminded the court that he had warned two weeks earlier that the prosecution had yet to serve its submissions.
Ratiram also noted that in June, the court rejected the State’s effort to introduce witness statements concerning the victims’ ages on legal grounds — a ruling the prosecution chose not to appeal.
With no supporting evidence before the court, Master Sookraj-Goswami ordered all six men discharged. The State may still choose to refile charges, but must present admissible evidence if it intends to proceed.
