New T&T human trafficking law nets cop

(Trinidad Guardian) A police constable with 25 years’ service was denied bail on Tuesday after appearing in court on ten human-trafficking charges involving three Colombian women. It is alleged that PC Valentino Eastman, 52, who was last assigned to the Mon Repos Police Station, brought the women into the country and harboured them for the purpose of prostitution.

Eastman is the first person in T&T to be charged under the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2011. He appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the San Fernando First Court where the prosecution objected to bail.

Eastman was arrested last Thursday after the women were detained and handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit which launched an investigation into allegations made by the women.