In a landmark ruling, a magistrate court has cleared a pastor and five others of human trafficking charges. Pastor Glen Awong, along with former school principal Cheryl Kallicharan Beharry, attorney Lena Jaggernath, her mother Indra Jaggernath, Anthony Marchan, and Robert Andrews, had been jointly charged with trafficking in persons, kidnapping, and false imprisonment. The charges stemmed from a police raid on the Transformed Life Ministry in December 2019, during which 69 people were rescued.
After a year-long preliminary enquiry, Magistrate Brambhanan Dubay, sitting in the Arima Magistrates’ Court, upheld a no-case submission made by the defense. Attorney Wayne Sturge, who headed the defense team, argued that there was insufficient evidence to form a prima facie case against the accused.
Speaking to reporters following the ruling, Pastor Awong expressed his belief that the decision to charge him and the others was a result of a payment dispute with the State. He claimed that the State owed his ministry money for their work in caring for the homeless, mental clients, and drug addicts. Awong further stated that the unpaid fees dispute was still before the court.
The defense team plans to file a lawsuit against the State for malicious prosecution. Awong emphasized the bitter experience of being charged with serious offenses without any evidence to support the allegations. The defendants maintain their innocence and seek justice for the ordeal they have faced.
The case against the accused was primarily based on the testimony of two of Beharry’s children, Selwyn and Christiana, as well as several police officers. However, the defense successfully argued that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges arose from a police raid conducted by the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) in October 2019. Led by former police commissioner Gary Griffith, the raid took place at Transformed Life Ministry’s rehabilitation center in Arouca. Police claimed to have rescued 69 individuals, some of whom were allegedly found naked and locked in cages. Handcuffs, batons, and Tasers were also reported to have been seized during the operation.
With the no-case submission upheld by the court, the pastor and others who stood accused can now focus on rebuilding their lives. This ruling serves as an important precedent and highlights the significance of a robust legal defense and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
It is worth noting that the magistrate court’s decision does not absolve the accused of any civil liability they may face regarding the payment dispute with the State. As the legal process continues, the defendants hope to reach a resolution that vindicates their actions and brings closure to the matter.
