– to be charged in connection with taxi caper

The ‘tipsy cop’ from the Springlands Police Station, who was accused of hijacking a taxi from the Palace Taxi Service after holding the driver at gunpoint, was released from close arrest and may be charged soon.

This newspaper understands that an investigation was completed and the cop who was off-duty at the time may face several charges.

However hijacking and possession of a firearm would not be among them as investigators were unable to prove that a gun was used or that robbery was intended.

The officer is likely to face charges for taking the vehicle without consent and for traffic offences which includes driving under the influence of alcohol and for being an unlicensed driver.

Stabroek News learnt that the file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

The policeman, said to be in his early 20s, was placed under close arrest after he reportedly hijacked the taxi that he had hired to take him to Molesen Creek, around midday on October 22.

The constable who was under the influence of alcohol had reportedly hired the black and gold AT 170 Carina, PEE 8625 from the Palace Taxi Service at Number 78 Village, Corriverton to take him to Molesen Creek.

The driver, Rajendra `Vicky’ Bhagwattie, 22, reported that when they were halfway there, the constable, who was in plain clothes, pointed a gun to him and ordered him to stop the car and go to the passenger side.

Bhagwattie complied but said that when the car reached a section of the road that is under construction, the officer “ran off to the edge and he couldn’t control it anymore.”

The driver jumped out of the taxi and subsequently joined a canter truck that was headed to Corriverton. He also contacted the owner of the taxi service, Jagdeshwar ‘Rocky’ Sarran who reported the matter to the police.

Sarran told Stabroek News that the officers contacted their colleagues at the Molesen Creek Outpost. As the police from Springlands were going into the area with Sarran and Bhagwattie they received a call that the policeman was on his way out of Molesen Creek in a pick-up.

He was arrested and took the police to a spot at the Molesen Creek Ferry Stelling where he had abandoned the car.

Reports are that the police officer had previously beaten up two persons in separate incidents while he was under the influence of alcohol. He is also expected to face two counts of assault shortly.