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THE Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) has warned that it is a criminal offence to publish or broadcast any information likely to lead to the identification of a complainant in sexual offences matters.
In a media release yesterday, the Association further called on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and other relevant authorities to investigate the source of the leak of the alleged victim’s confidential statement in a matter surrounding attorney Martin George.
The Association said the TTPS must hold accountable any individual responsible for this “unlawful and unethical conduct”.
George is out on $150,000 bail after being charged with grievous sexual assault and indecent assault against a colleague while at his Port of Spain law chamber on March 22.
Following the Association’s release, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged leak.
The TTPS issued a statement indicating that the probe will focus on determining how the complainant’s name, image, and statement details were made public, and will seek to identify and hold accountable anyone responsible for violating the law or TTPS protocols.
The Association expressed its “grave concern” over the circulation on social media of confidential information “relating to a report of sexual assault made by a junior attorney against a senior member of the legal profession.”
“In particular, the Association condemns the publication and dissemination of the virtual complainant’s name, image, and details of her statement to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), which are now circulating widely online,” it added.
The Association reminded the public that Section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act, Chap. 11:28, makes it a criminal offence to publish or broadcast any information likely to lead to the identification of a complainant in a sexual offences matter. “The law is clear, and it applies equally to traditional media outlets and social media users,” stated the release.
The Association noted that the rationale behind this prohibition is to protect victims of sexual offences from further trauma, stigma, and public scrutiny. The unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information not only breaches the law but also undermines the dignity, privacy, and safety of the persons involved, LATT said.
“This troubling incident reflects a broader and increasingly prevalent trend in Trinidad and Tobago: the unauthorised leaking and sharing of police evidence, crime scene footage, witness statements, and other sensitive information that ought to remain in the custody of the appropriate investigative authorities. This must not become the norm. The protection of the justice system depends on maintaining the confidentiality of such material until due process is followed,” stated the Association.
The Association urged all citizens, especially users of social media platforms, to refrain from sharing or reposting material that violates the law or causes harm to the individuals involved in this matter. “Let us all act with care, respect, and responsibility,” said LATT.
Once seen as a sign of progress for the Gasparillo community, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Centre on Church Street now sits abandoned and unused.
Constructed during the tenure of the People’s Partnership government between 2010 and 2015, the ECCE centre was intended to provide early education for children in Gasparillo and its surrounding areas.
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She was the passenger in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution car driven by her 19-year-old boyfriend, Navin Bedassie.
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For 14 years, the hope for justice has fuelled Maureen Dilchan Maharajh.
That hope was renewed last Tuesday, when a High Court ruling by Justice Kevin Ramcharan found her constitutional rights were violated by the State’s handling of a dangerous driving case that led to her husband’s death in 2011.
Maharajh, from Calcutta #2 in Freeport, was awarded a total of $500,000 in damages, plus interest and legal costs.
Since the April 28 general election which saw the United National Congress (UNC) form the new Government, Trinidad and Tobago has recorded 81 murders, raising the total count for 2025 to 208 killings as of yesterday.
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The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by 23 police officers against the Commissioner of Police and the Promotion Advisory Board (PAB), who had allowed a revised Order of Merit List (OML) for promotions to expire without extending it.
The claimants, all sergeants who entered the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) between 1994 and 2000 and who passed the qualifying examinations for promotion to inspector, alleged that the defendants’ actions were unlawful, procedurally unfair, and breached their legitimate expectations.
A Central Trinidad businessman was shot and killed in a drive-by attack in Freeport on Frida…
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