Attorney-at-law and former Prosecutor Tamieka Clarke was arrested and detained by the Special Organised Crime Unit after she advised a client of hers who was being questioned by SOCU not to sign a prepared statement and to exercise their right to silence.

The incident took place this morning at the SOCU headquarters and it has triggered calls for a major investigation as well as a full apology and compensation for the Attorney.

Attorneys Nigel Hughes and other lawyers from his law firm and Attorney Shaun Allicock rushed down to the SOCU headquarters and secured the release of the Attorney.

At a press conference in the company of Attorneys Nigel Hughes and Shawn Shewram, Ms. Clarke recounted that her client had been reporting to the SOCU headquarters on different days over the past week in connection with an investigation.

She said during the visit this morning, after she advised her client not to sign the prepared statement and to remain silent, she was immediately arrested by SOCU investigators, had her phone taken away and prevented from leaving the building.

“The officer who arrested me is a male officer and he took my phone from me. Then one of the other officers told him to get the female rank from the gate because she has to be the one to arrest her. The female rank came up and they started to prepare a record in a book and asked me my name and I tried to leave and I got up and as I was walking out, Sgt. Singh ran and blocked the door. Then he came and made a record in a book and the officer who arrested me, stood by the door and so I couldn’t leave and the female officer came and told me to take off my watch and that she wanted the watch and I stayed silent until my Attorneys came, Mr. Hughes came and assisted”, Attorney Clarke related.

Attorney Nigel Hughes said the incident is an attack on the local bar and must be condemned by all. He said the Constitution provides the right for anyone in custody to remain silent and the Attorney was doing her job when she advised her client to enforce that right.

Hughes said the incident has raised deep concern about the way the Police conducts its work and threats to officers of the Court.

“In this case, Ms. Clarke’s client was the subject of an investigation and she advised her client and she also informed SOCU that she had so advised her client that they have the right to remain silent. And they said to her in advance on Tuesday that we will arrest you if you give your client the advice which you said you have given which is consistent with the Constitution and I just want us to ponder on this because this is not a PPP, PNC, APNU, AFC or anybody else issue, this is an issue where every Attorney in this country, including the Attorney General when he was in private practice is entitled to go to the station and advise their client that they have the right to remain silent if they are a suspect”. Hughes said.

Mr. Hughes said the actions of the Special Organised Crime Unit must also be seen as an attack on the Constitution and the rule of law. He will be filing action against SOCU on behalf of Attorney Tamieka Clarke as early as next week.

Related posts:

Court rules SOCU’s arrest of Attorney for advice to client was unconstitutional DPP discontinues private criminal charge against SOCU Officers in arrest of Attorney Lawyers picket SOCU over arrest of colleague and attack on rule of law; Police request return of file from DPP Bar Association and Women Lawyers group slam SOCU over “unlawful” arrest of Attorney