(Trinidad Express) Yenny Maria Rineo Cruz was wearing party clothes and not lingerie the night that police officers went to Classic Seamen Hotel and Bar in Marabella and arrested her.
This was the statement put to police constable Jason Dailey who was cross-examined by Cruz’s attorney, Vince Charles, when the trial continued in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Cruz is one of 75 women from Colombia, Guyana and the Dominican Republic who pleaded not guilty to the charge of soliciting passersby for the purpose of prostitution. They were charged under Section 46 (J) of the Summary Offences Act.
The cases are being heard by Fourth Court Magistrate Margaret Alert.
Dailey, in answer to questioning by Charles, told the court that on the night of March 8 he went to the hotel and bar to conduct surveillance and did not know that Immigration Division officers would attend the police exercise.
Charles said to Dailey, “I put it to you that this woman (pointing to Rineo Cruz) was in the company of friends,” to which Dailey replied: “No.”
“I put it to you that this defendant was not in lingerie,” said Charles, to which the police officer again said no.
“But she was dressed in party clothes,” said Charles. Again, Dailey replied in the negative.
“This defendant never offered anyone sex for $300,” Charles said to Dailey.
“Yes she did,” the police officer answered.
Dailey denied Charles’ suggestion that Rineo Cruz was never informed of her rights and privileges in her native tongue, and that the first time she knew she was charged with an offence was when she appeared in court.
Another police witness, Corporal Darren Lall, told the court that he spoke both English and Spanish and went to Classic Seamen Hotel and Bar on that night with other police officers from Special Branch Division and Guard and Emergency Branch, along with officers of the Immigration Division.
Lall said when they arrived at the establishment around 10.30 p.m., approximately 100 people were there and the officers secured all entrances and exits.
Lall said police officers approached the defendant and he heard her speaking with a Spanish accent.
He told the court he spoke to her in Spanish and translated what the other police officers said.
The police corporal said the defendant was taken to San Fernando Police Station and there she was further cautioned and informed of her rights and privileges.
“I also read from a document which I had in my possession, which contained one’s constitutional rights and privileges translated into Spanish,” testified Lall.
“In my presence, PC Dailey served the defendant with a notice to prisoner which I also translated. I translated the preamble in the document which I had in my possession.”
Some of the other defendants are being represented by defence attorneys Subhas Panday, Ainsley Lucky and Hasine Shaikh.
The case was postponed to April 25.
