Police charge Ministry Employee with two counts of misbehaviour in public office

Trinidad and Tobago: An employee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries was expected to appear virtually before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on March 14, 2022, charged with two counts of misbehaviour in public office.

Jimboy Bruno, a 38-year-old checker of Bon Air, was charged with the offences following advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, on March 13, 2022 (Sunday).

The police of Trinidad and Tobago have stated that it is alleged that the accused used his employment with the State to facilitate possible corrupt activities within the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands.

As per the police, A report was made of the activities on March 10, 2022, and the next day, a party of officers from the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) executed a search warrant at the said office, where they were allegedly found several forged Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Agriculture Land and Fisheries, Commissioner of State Lands letters, in a desk, allegedly occupied by an employee of the Ministry.

On February 3, 2020, one such letter was found in a man’s name, falsely permitting him to occupy State Lands located in South Oropouche. The man allegedly confessed that the Ministry employee gave him the document upon paying $700.

The accused was arrested because of the incident that happened on March 11, 2022 (Friday) by ACIB. He was charged with offences by the WPC Leaticia Dillon.

The accused is the second person arrested and charged in connection with the forgery of Commissioner of State Lands letters in the past week, the Trinidadian police informed.

On March 10, Devon Richardson was appeared at Chaguanas Magistrate, charged with uttering a forged document to a representative of the State. Bail was granted with surety for $150,000 or $50,000. As the matter was adjourned to April 8, 2022, he was also ordered to report to a police station in his district once per week.

In accordance with the police officials, investigations were supervised by Snr. Supt. Deryck Walker and Supt. Avinash Singh and assisted by Insp. Bryon Daniel, W/Insp. Alicia Mc Millian and Sgt. Gerrard Baldwin, all of the ACIB.