A surprise search was carried out at the Alcatraz detention center in the Central Barracks on the evening of Thursday June 8. This exercise enabled one of the officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Southern Division to seize a cell phone. The phone was lying on the floor under a towel near cell N0 1. Inmates incarcerated there were questioned about the phone. They all remained silent. The CID, which initiated an investigation, suspects that the phone belongs to suspect Vimen Sabapati, a 39-year-old Vacoassian and former national muoy thai trainer who was recently arrested by the Special Striking Team (SST) at police headquarters for drug trafficking. The police officer, Goparlensamy Perinanen, 48, assigned to the detention center, was arrested as a suspect in the case on a conspiracy charge.
In a statement made at the Central Barracks police station at around 10 p.m. on Thursday June 8, a sub-inspector from the Alcatraz detention center recounted the circumstances surrounding the seizure. It was shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Thursday June 8, when a surprise search was carried out in all the cells of this detention center. This exercise took place with police officers from the CID and the Divisional Supporting Unit.
At one point, a CID officer came across a towel lying on the floor near cell N0 1, occupied by Vimen Sapabati. One of the CID officers lifted the towel and discovered a Nokia cell phone. All the inmates at Alcatraz were questioned about the presence of this phone. But they all remained silent.
The cell phone was seized as evidence. It was handed over to an IT Unit officer for examination.
Police officer Goparlensamy Perianen, who has twenty-nine years’ service with the force, was arrested on Friday afternoon, June 9. He will be brought before the Bail and Remand Court (BRC) in Port-Louis this Saturday morning, June 10. The suspect, who was questioned, asserted his right to remain silent. He has retained the services of Me Assad Rujub.
The case is being investigated by the men of Chief Inspector Ragavoodoo of the Metropolitan Police’s CID, Southern Division, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Aniff Thug.
