Media Release: The Reinstatement of ASP Roger Alexander.

Media Release:

Re: The Reinstatement of ASP Roger Alexander.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)  is certainly not amused nor does it find solace in the reinstatement of ASP Roger Alexander. This is one error Gary Griffith should not be making so early in holding this office of Commissioner of  Police. And as if reinstatement was not enough, Gary Griffith is adding insult to injury by appearing alongside with ASP Roger Alexander on his return debut on TV6’s Beyond the Tape. This ill-gotten fame would definitely go to Alexander's head. Can you imagine a "rogue police officer" boasting of having a debut with the Commissioner of Police, as one of his credentials?

It is quite apparent this matter before the courts are not over. The ugly truth is, this endorsement by Commissioner Gary Griffith would go horribly wrong.

Alexander was on suspension after he was charged with assault but was freed earlier this month. Alexander and his co-accused constable Sheldon Mires were charged with assaulting Christopher Charles in Santa Cruz in July 2016. After two years and 44 days, they were freed. Alexander said then that he was eager to work with Griffith.

According to one of our prominent attorneys; Fareed Ali, in a release said, "...the officers were acquitted and can now resume active duty within the TTPS. The truth is as it stands they are both free from convictions but as we say in Trinidad on a ‘technicality’. What happened was not one shred of evidence was allowed to be read against either officer..."

"...In reality, what the extract of the court will in fact say is that the case was not dismissed on its merits by way of evidence. In fact, it was dismissed when the Magistrate threw it out inter alia because of the tardiness and inefficiency of the state in piloting yet another matter through the judicial system. This result as a result of the state is another blot on the criminal justice system in the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago. It will serve to undermine public confidence in the already ailing criminal justice system..."

"...Whilst the newspaper editorials tell a story invariably of the innocence of both officers the truth is they were not proven to be innocent at trial because the trial was not allowed to take place because of the actions of Magistrate Nizam Khan. The state by appealing against the decision of the Magistrate seeks to have leave of the Court of Appeal to relay the charges against Alexander  and  Mieres..."

This is exactly why Commissioner Gary Griffith should keep his distance from Roger Alexander and not reinstate him. This action of the Commissioner may appear to have been made in haste with the possibility of being influenced or persuaded. This definitely would erode public confidence causing serious, possibly delivering an irreparable blow to the Office of the Commissioner.

Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is calling on the Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith to seriously reconsider his decision to re-enstate ASP Roger Alexander and further advises that he keeps his distance from Alexander until the appeal is heard and Roger Alexander is exonerated by the courts.

For Immediate Release:
Date: April 2nd, 2019

Umar Abdullah
Head of Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)
Tel: +18683656253 or +18687870765