A MAJOR breakthrough in a series of crimes in the country may soon be declared null and void.

Underworld sources say the State’s case against several accused men is expected to be weakening soon.

TnT Mirror understands that the State’s lone witness is not as reliable as he professed to be.

Already, there are reports that the State’s witness has demanded hefty monetary payments from one of the accused in return for withdrawing his evidence.

Police first held the witness on inquiries in a murder.

“The witness revealed certain information to the police and several of his associates were arrested and charged,” said sources.

The witness, however, was not charged and has not received immunity.

But he is the State’s main witness.

Sources told Mirror that there has been a rift between the witness and one of the accused men for sometime.

“Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson should check his records good and see what kind of history is behind the witness he is depending on,” one source advised.

“He should do so with haste before too much of the State’s money is wasted.

“The DPP would see that the witness’ rival was previously held on inquiries in a murder of 1996 in Central Trinidad.

“The witness was the one who revealed certain information to the police then.

“But he later accepted a payment not to give evidence.

“The witness then changed his story and backed down from giving evidence against his rival.

“That happened while the man was held on inquiries.

“Charges could not be laid since the main witness was no longer willing to give evidence.”

The source said the same scenario is set to play-off in the recent arrest of the man and his cohorts.