All of them were arrested on suspicion of being affiliated with gangs. However the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that he did not have sufficient evidence to charge the group.
The men were charged under Section 5 (1) of the recently passed Anti-Gang Act, as being members of a gang, namely the “Nelson Street Gang”.
Roger Gaspard told a Port of Spain magistrate on Monday he could not make the charge stick.
“I have perused the men’s files and I have the unflinching view that there is not sufficient evidence to continue these proceedings against these defendants," he said.
“Shortly, I intend to file motions of discontinuance in respect to this matter.”
Attorney Ian Brooks, who represented one of the accused, said, “This decision proves the independence of the office of the DPP and Gaspard himself.”
Brooks told the media some of the accused might be taking legal action against the State.
The group of 21 was arrested on August 23. They told reporters they are happy to be free after 20 days in detention. Atiba Gorkin, who spoke for the group, said all 21 of them were crammed into a tiny cell and were only allowed out once a day.
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