St. Lucia: Police officer denied bail

CASTRES, St. Lucia, CMC- A senior police officer was denied bail when he appeared in court Tuesday with theft as police continue their investigations into the disappearance of an M16 rifle.

The Major Crimes Unit of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) said that  Sergeant Ricardo Jerson Charlemagne had been taken into custody last weekend and is assisting with the investigation.

But he was denied bail when he appeared in the First District Court charged with theft after the M16 rifle was reported missing from the Gros Islet Police Station armoury, north of here, on February 15.

An RSLPF statement said that the investigation is still in its preliminary stages and said that Police Commissioner, Verne Garde, and the RSLPF “strongly oppose” any form of institutional corruption.

Superintendent Luke Defreitas, who heads the Central Division, has since sought to reassure the public that despite Charlemagne’s arrest, the RSLPF remains committed to integrity and justice.

While he has acknowledged the seriousness of the case, he is urging citizens not to lose faith in law enforcement, stating that the actions of one officer do not define the entire force.

Defreitas also warned that corruption and misconduct would not be tolerated and promised transparency as the case unfolds.

Meanwhile, former national security minister, Hermangild Francis, said that if the officer is found guilty, he should receive a firm sentence “so that persons understand that when you hold power in your office, especially as a police officer, you cannot be doing this sort of thing”.

Francis, a former deputy commissioner of police, said there is a need for ongoing officer vetting to prevent future security breaches.

The M16 rifle has been described as a lightweight, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle that fires a 5.56mm cartridge and depending on the model, it can fire in semi-automatic and fully automatic modes.