Police Say More Evidence Against Pastor/Journalist Than in His Favour
Just now you heard Journalist Louis Wade speak on what has transpired with an incident that led to him being slapped with two charges; one for common assault and the other for use of insulting words. At the centre of the story is the San Ignacio Police Formation. On Thursday the media had inquired with the Police Press Office to get an official interview from the Officer in Charge at the San Ignacio Police – the PR indicated to the media that there would be no interview on an incident that is a misdemeanor and a minor and ‘frivolous’. But today Superintendent Richard Rosado gave a phone interview to our colleagues at Krem TV. O.C. Rosado said that the evidence was there to charge Wade, but nothing to support his claims against Montero. He said they gave Wade time to bring in evidence he claimed he had but he failed to do so. Rosado pointed out that there was no political interference.
Via Phone: Supt. Richard Rosado, O.C., San Ignacio Police
“Please appreciate that my officer lay charges on the evidential material available to them. And based on that, on the investigation, the investigator believed there was sufficient evidence to lay charges against Mister Wade for insulting words and common assault. Now, I want to add that during the process of the investigation, Mister Wade informed the investigator that he had additional evidential material that he wanted to provide to the police. The investigator in the course of natural justice, he gave Mister Wade ample time to submit the evidential material he claimed he had. But he was not forthcoming. In fact, I was the one who called Mister Wade on Monday, I asked him, in fact I begged him, implored, that he brings in the evidential material that he had for us to complete the investigation. He told me he would, and he said on or before Wednesday he would submit it. Mister Wade came to the station on Wednesday and he told the investigator I will not submit on advice of my counsel. That is basically what transpired; what delayed the laying of the charges. The report that was given by Mister Wade, there was insufficient evidence to lay any charges against Mister Montero. We brought in both Mister Montero and Mister Wade and they were both interviewed. Also the witnesses all corroborated Mister Montero report. And the investigator then informed Mister Wade of what we have so far in the investigation. That is when Mister Wade said he had additional evidential material that he would provide Police with, but he was not forthcoming with that evidential material that he claimed he had.”
Reporter
“He also mentioned that there were witnesses that he had to find and that police never interviewed those witnesses?”
Via Phone: Supt. Richard Rosado
“It is sad that he would say that. Mister Wade gave us, I believe, two or three names, all those individuals were interviewed and they gave the police certain information. They refused to give a statement to the police. But they were interviewed.”
Reporter
“And you are stating categorically that the reason why the police waited almost the end of the statute bar limitation to bring charges was because you were waiting for him to come forward with the evidence he said he had?”
Via Phone: Supt. Richard Rosado
“The investigator, in the course of natural justice, he gave Mister Wade ample time to submit the evidentiary material that he claimed he had, hence the reason the delay in laying charges. At no time, I can categorically say it, that at no time did any politician contacted me or any of the investigator. In fact when the investigator completed his file, I brought together a team and we went through to get the file together and that was when the decision was made based on the investigation that was conducted to lay the two charges against Mister Wade. So, there was no political interference at no point in the investigation.”
