Civil law suits were filed late Friday by the State on nine executive members of the main opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC) in connection with the February 26 alleged beating of a police officer who was caught spying on a meeting of the party’s national executive held on Lucas Street, St. George’s.
This was disclosed by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Congress party, Nazim Burke, one of the nine to be served with legal papers.
Burke said that the lawsuit served on him came in the name of Attorney-General, Elvin Nimrod who is acting on behalf of Police Officer, 77 Kelon Noel.
Burke is the incumbent Member of Parliament for the St. George North-east seat. He is considered as the clear front-runner to retain the seat in the upcoming general elections, widely expected before year-end.
Among the others named in the lawsuit for allegedly beating the police officer are three other prospective candidates for NDC - Peter David (Town of St. George), Joseph Gilbert (St. Patrick West) and Sylvester Quarless (St. Andrew South-west).
Speculation is rife that the State is targeting those persons earmarked as candidates for Congress in an effort to disbar them from contesting the poll.
NDC officials are confident of winning up to thirteen seats in the poll to end the 13-year old reign of the ruling New National Party (NNP) government of Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
Officer Noel has admitted placing a tape-recorder underneath the window of the building where a session of the National Executive was in progress.
He was later apprehended by executive members who discovered that he was a plain clothes member of the Special Branch of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).
The NDC leadership has filed a complaint to Police Commissioner, Winston James on the act of espionage committed against the official parliamentary opposition grouping.
The Commissioner has already admitted that he did not authorise the spying on the NDC executive meeting.
Opposition Leader, Tillman Thomas has accused the police force of having in its rank a wing that is controlled by the NNP regime.
