Four persons were expected to appear in a virtual hearing before a Port of Spain Magistrate today, charged with various offences under the Trafficking in Persons Act and the Children’s Act.
An official report from the Police Service says an exercise was carried out on Tuesday 13th April 2021, following a report of human trafficking involving a Venezuelan girl.
The exercise was conducted by officers of the Special Investigations Unit, Counter-Trafficking Unit, the Special Investigations Task Force, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit.
The TTPS reports that the exercise resulted in the arrest of eight men. Four of the suspects were released and investigations are ongoing into their involvement in the matter.
The advice to lay the charges was given by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC.
The investigation was led and coordinated by Snr. Supt. Christopher Paponette, Supt. Michael Veronique, and Legal Officer, Zaheer Ali.
The accused who were scheduled to go before a Port of Spain Magistrate today, are:
1. KERON PASCALL aka “Summer Boss”, of Andrews Trace, Blue Basin, Diego Martin, charged with receiving and transporting a child for the purpose of child trafficking, harbouring a child for the purpose of child trafficking, knowingly receiving a financial benefit from the offence of trafficking in persons, causing a child to prostitute, controlling a child prostitute and facilitating child prostitution.
2. SHAQUILLE NOEL aka “Pipin”, of Blue Basin Road, Diego Martin, charged with receiving and transporting a child for the purpose of child trafficking and harbouring a child for the purpose of child trafficking.
3. JOSE RAPHAEL SORZANO PEREZ, charged with receiving and transporting a child for the purpose of child trafficking.
4. KJUDA JAMES, charged with sexual penetration of a child.