After spending two nights in custody at the Maloney Police Station, Head of the Legal Department at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Christian Chandler, has been formally charged with five offences. 

The first charge laid is for breach of the  Emergency Powers (No 2) Regulations of 2021, which currently makes it an offence to be found at any beach, sea, river, stream, pond, spring or similar body of water for recreational purposes.

He is also accused twice under section 206 of the Defence Force Act of wilfully obstructing members of the T&T Coast Guard.

Two more charges for possession of a firearm without a Firearm User’s Licence (FUL) were also said to be laid.

 Chandler was sent on leave from August 16th, pending the outcome of an investigation into claims he pointed his loaded licensed firearm at a Coast Guard officer.

The incident allegedly took place onboard Chandler’s yacht on August 5th, as the Coast Guard responded to a distress call that a woman was being held against her will on the vessel.

Hours after the story broke, then Police Commissioner Gary Griffith announced Chandler’s leave, adding that the matter is being investigated by officers in the Western Division.