00:00of acting chief magistrate brian davidine was searched by police yesterday as you would have
00:04just heard in an operation tied to an ongoing investigation involving local and international
00:09law enforcement agencies electronic devices were seized during the exercise which police say forms
00:16part of a probe into alleged offenses including money laundering fraud public corruption and
00:22bribery while no charges have been laid investigators described the matter as being
00:26at a sensitive stage mark wasan tells more police officers armed with a judicially authorized
00:34search warrant searched the gullview home of acting chief magistrate brian davidine on monday seizing
00:40electronic devices and other items as part of an ongoing investigation the operation was later
00:46confirmed by davidine's attorney prakash ramada who said the acting chief magistrate fully cooperated
00:51with officers and voluntarily handed over the requested devices ramada praised the professionalism
00:58of the investigators and insisted his client is committed to assist in the probe ramada said
01:03open quote the acting chief magistrate is extremely cooperative and will do everything to assist
01:08whatever investigation and all we ask is for it to be done comprehensive and to be done quickly to
01:14remove any doubts and negative thoughts about the office or the person close quote according to ramada
01:21davidine intends to continue carrying out his duties while the investigation unfolds he noted that no
01:27charges have been laid and expressed confidence the matter will ultimately be resolved in his client's
01:32favor questions surrounding the search were also put to commissioner of police alistair govero
01:37without identifying dibidine by name the commissioner confirmed that a warrant had been executed at the
01:44residence of a senior member of the judiciary govero said the operation was conducted under his
01:49direction and coordinated by deputy commissioner natasha george with officers drawn from special branch
01:55units responsible for white collar investigations and the multi-option police section he revealed that
02:01the search is part of a much wider investigation involving both local and international law enforcement
02:07partners as he responded to express journalist ana ramda's questions in response to your question
02:14i can confirm that a judicially authorized search warrant was executed today at the residence of a
02:21senior member of the judiciary the commissioner declined to discuss specific details of the
02:27investigation or any possible next steps warning that doing so could compromise ongoing inquiries
02:33and any future court proceedings at this point the investigation is at a sensitive stage and thus i am unable
02:40to comment on the specific operational details or any potential future investigative steps govero however
02:48stressed that the investigation would proceed without fear or favor regardless of the position held by any
02:54person under scrutiny all investigations will be conducted professionally impartially and without fear or
03:01favor irrespective of the office status or position held by any individual who may become the subject
03:10of investigative inquiries the police commissioner also urged members of the public to avoid speculation
03:16while investigators continue their work meanwhile ramada says both he and his client welcome a full
03:22investigation and are eager for what he described as lingering suspicions surrounding the matter to be
03:27resolved as quickly as possible police have not disclosed what triggered the investigation nor have they said
03:33whether any additional searches or arrests are being contemplated authorities say the probe remains active and
03:39involves cooperation with international law enforcement agencies mark basant tv6 news meanwhile following
03:46the search of the acting chief magistrates house the judiciary of trinidad and tobago issued a brief
03:51statement on the matter the judiciary indicated that it was a way of reports concerning the execution of a
03:57search warrant in relation to acting chief magistrate brian davidine the release further stated the judiciary
04:04recognizes the importance of the core legal principles of due process the presumption of innocence and that
04:11all persons are considered to be equal before the law given the nature of the matter the judiciary stated
04:17that it will refrain from further comment at this time to safeguard the fairness and integrity of an ongoing
04:24investigation on all legal processes still to come
