Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard warned media on Thursday against publishing material that that could implicate persons in criminal matters before the cases go to court.
Gaspard's comments are in connection with surveillance video of activities in Nelson Street Port of Spain that appear to show crimes in progress in broad daylight.
JYOTI has seen some of the video. In one clip a group of men surround a car on the street and appear to rob the occupants. In another, a man is seen taking something from another person and leaving. And in a third clip two women are robbed.
All of the material was recorded by police using closed circuit cameras (CCTV).
Two days after the declaration of the State of Emergency police detained 21 men from Nelson Street but a magistrate set the men free after Gaspard's office said there was not enough evidence to convict any of the men.
That resulted in condemnation of the police; government critics slammed the administration, saying it was using the emergency measures to victimise honest, innocent citizens.
But incriminating video surfaced shortly after the release of the men and some media have shown the video clips and posted them on the Internet.
A media release bearing Gaspard's signature was circulated to media Thursday stating that making public the criminal records of persons who were detained and showing video purporting to be crimes in progress on Nelson Street could affect matters before courts and cause media to be held in contempt of court.
Gaspard expressed "grave concern" over the images displayed in the electronic and print media earlier this week which purportedly show persons engaged in criminal activity.
The footage was originally shown during a media briefing conducted by the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, and broadcast live on television on Tuesday.
Gaspard said any pre-trial publicity that prejudices the fair trial of any person who is charged, or likely to be charged with a criminal offence, is legally unacceptable.
Gaspard's comments are in connection with surveillance video of activities in Nelson Street Port of Spain that appear to show crimes in progress in broad daylight.
JYOTI has seen some of the video. In one clip a group of men surround a car on the street and appear to rob the occupants. In another, a man is seen taking something from another person and leaving. And in a third clip two women are robbed.
All of the material was recorded by police using closed circuit cameras (CCTV).
Two days after the declaration of the State of Emergency police detained 21 men from Nelson Street but a magistrate set the men free after Gaspard's office said there was not enough evidence to convict any of the men.
That resulted in condemnation of the police; government critics slammed the administration, saying it was using the emergency measures to victimise honest, innocent citizens.
But incriminating video surfaced shortly after the release of the men and some media have shown the video clips and posted them on the Internet.
A media release bearing Gaspard's signature was circulated to media Thursday stating that making public the criminal records of persons who were detained and showing video purporting to be crimes in progress on Nelson Street could affect matters before courts and cause media to be held in contempt of court.
Gaspard expressed "grave concern" over the images displayed in the electronic and print media earlier this week which purportedly show persons engaged in criminal activity.
The footage was originally shown during a media briefing conducted by the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, and broadcast live on television on Tuesday.
Gaspard said any pre-trial publicity that prejudices the fair trial of any person who is charged, or likely to be charged with a criminal offence, is legally unacceptable.
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