Police Constable granted bail after evidence tampering charge

Police Constable Stefon Khan has been granted bail with surety in the sum of $350,000 after being charged with misbehaviour in public office. The charge followed an investigation into the tampering and theft of police exhibits.

Khan appeared virtually before Master Rhea Libert at the Chaguanas Masters Court on May 7. Bail conditions require him to reside at his home, avoid contact with witnesses, and obtain court approval before leaving the country. A status hearing has been set for July 10. He remains in custody at the Eastern Correctional Recreational Facility until the expiration of the current state of emergency.

The investigation began after a fatal police-involved shooting in the Central Division on February 24. A Crime Scene Investigator collected exhibits including a firearm, ammunition, and two blocks of cannabis weighing approximately 2.2 kilograms. These were sealed and stored in the Chaguanas Police Station strongroom.

On February 25, the investigator discovered that the evidence bag seal had been broken. The cannabis blocks had been replaced with tampered packages containing wood and a ceramic tile. CCTV footage identified Constable Khan removing the exhibits and replacing them with altered packages.

Senior police officers coordinated the investigation, which led to Constable Khan’s arrest under a Preventative Detention Order. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard SC, advised that Khan be charged with misbehaviour in public office for larceny of exhibits valued at $242,000.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service stated that all officers are held to the highest standards of integrity. The Service emphasized that misconduct involving police exhibits will not be tolerated and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of justice.

The matter will return to court in July for a status update.