COMMISSIONER of Police (CoP) Trevor Paul must explain why he has allowed a doctor accused of making a death threat against another doctor to keep his licensed firearm.

Dr. Krishna Rampersadsingh, Registrar in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) allegedly threatened to kill the department’s head, Dr. Jehan Ali, in the early morning hours of August 29, 2004.

Dr. Rampersadsingh is said to have made the death threat in a telephone call to Dr. Ali’s San Fernando home at 12.50 a.m.

He was, however, charged with assaulting Dr. Ali.

The matter is before Magistrate Adrian Dharmanie in the San Fernando Fourth Magistrates’ Court.

The matter has been called nine times with no hearings so far.

It will now be heard on August 24.

Attorney Ravi Rajcoomar has been granted a fiat (special permission) by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute on behalf of Dr. Ali.

This, while Dr. Rampersadsingh continues to walk around with his gun.

Concerned staffers at SFGH told TnT Mirror the situation is a cause for great concern.

“We have a situation where both men work in the same department (O&G) at the hospital,” a staff member said.

“One can never know what may happen with Dr. Rampersadsingh walking around with his gun at the hospital.

“CoP Paul must direct his investigators to re-visit this matter.

CoP TREVOR
PAUL

Attorney RAVI
RAJCOOMAR

Dr. KRISHNA
RAMPERSADSINGH

Dr. JEHAN ALI

“Consideration must be given to the fact that Dr. Ali made professional allegations against Dr. Rampersadsingh, who it is alleged, later threatened to kill him (Dr. Ali),” the staffer added.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) South Eldwin Noel told Mirror the matter should have been investigated and a report submitted to CoP Paul.

ASP Noel said CoP Paul was the one responsible for making the final decision.

Noel could not, however, say what procedure was followed in the matter.

Attempts to contact the complainant in the matter, PC Sulaiman, at the San Fernando Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were futile.

Sulaiman, sources said, has been taking lukewarm interest in the matter and CoP Paul should investigate this.

Several police officers, who answered the CID telephone on separate occasions, said Sulaiman was on the field.

Mirror learnt that attorney-at-law Rajcoomar wrote Paul asking for Dr. Rampersadsingh’s firearm to be confiscated until the matter was determined.

When contacted for comment, Dr. Ali said he did “feel safe”.

The prominent South Trinidad gynaecologist did not elaborate.

Dr. Rampersadsingh, while declining to comment, said: “Why are you calling me?

“You wrote a nasty article about me.

“Please don’t call me or I will put you in my lawyer’s hands and you will have to defend yourself,” he threatened.

Dr. Rampersadsingh referred to a story carried exclusively in Friday Mirror’s July 14, 2006 issue, headlined, “The doctor carries a gun”.

The story stated that the doctor was allowed to carry his licensed gun even though he had a serious charge against him of threatening life and that the police had not moved to seize the gun until the matter was determined.