(Guardian of Trinidad) Special Operations Response Team Leader (SORT), Inspector Mark Hernandez, is expected to be charged with misconduct in public office in connection with an investigation into the treatment of suspects in the abduction and murder of Andrea Bharatt.
During a hearing of a habeas corpus application brought by Hernandez yesterday, officials of the Office of Professional Standards (PSB) noted that they had received instructions to lay the charge from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
As attorney Yohann Niles, of the T&T Police Service Legal Unit (TTPS), noted that investigators only needed a short time to complete the paperwork necessary to officially charge Hernandez, High Court Judge Betsy Ann Lambert Peterson until 4:15 pm to complete process or release.
He also ordered the State to pay half of Hernandez’s legal costs for bringing the lawsuit, as she ruled the action was reasonable in the circumstances of his long-term detention, since last Wednesday.
The development in the case comes hours after High Court Judge Jacqueline Wilson ordered the release of WPC Laura Gadar, who was detained alongside Hernandez and filed a similar lawsuit.
Hernandez and Gadar were the only two of the roughly two dozen members of the unit questioned in relation to the probe, who had remained in custody by investigators since last week.
Both participated in identification marches on Saturday.
Joel Balcon and Andrew Morris were prime suspects in the capture of Bharratt, a clerk at Arima Magistrates’ Court, who went missing on January 29th.
Within hours of the disappearance of Bharratt, Morris and Balcon were detained by a team of SORT officers and an Anti-kidnapping unit (AKU).
Morris died in hospital on February 1st, while Balcon succumbed to injuries, allegedly taken into police custody, nearly a week later.
Bharratt’s swollen and decomposed body, days before Balcon’s death (Feb. 4), was found dumped over a hallway in the Heights of Aripo.
Negus George was eventually charged with the murder of Bharratt. Another suspect was allegedly beaten by police but survived and was released without being charged.
Hernandez has been shortlisted for one of three Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) positions. His nomination by the Police Service Commission (PCC) has yet to be discussed and approved by Parliament.
In anticipation of Hernandez and Gadar case hearings, unity messages were being shared on social media, this morning.
Hernandez was represented by Wayne Sturge, Lemuel Murphy, Mario Merritt, and Alexia Romero.
Gadar was represented by Gerald Ramdeen, Dayadai Harripaul, Darren Mitchell, and Umesh Maharaj.