Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran yesterday revealed in the Senate that he was robbed two months ago. He was speaking during the debate on the Evidence Amendment Act.

’I thought seriously about making this public ... about two months ago my house was robbed. I was one of those whose house was robbed and all the information on my laptop, all my secure information was stolen ... apart from television and all the things that my small salary was used to buy,’ said Deosaran.

Deosaran spoke of the horror faced by residents of Champ Fleurs and Maracas Valley, St Joseph, who were victims of a gang of thieves specifically targeting these areas.

He said the records show that some 15 households were broken into and valuables such as laptops and televisions stolen.

He spoke of a case where one resident of Hilltop Drive, Champ Fleurs, was tied up and beaten in the early morning as he was leaving for work.

Deosaran added that a few days ago the bandits went as far as to rob the residence of a Scotland Yard officer on Hilltop Drive who was brought to this country to aid the police service in the fight against crime.

The Senator said he wrote to Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) James Philbert on the matter, offering his assistance and questioning whether a strategic plan was being executed given the pattern of robberies.

He said these victims’ hopes were crushed as the St Joseph Police Station where they called for help, was the same where drugs and ammunition were hidden in the roof.

Deosaran said the Evidence Amendment Act would make people more fearful of giving evidence given all the processes that they would have to go through to give evidence through audio and video means.

Referring to an image of a Hindu monkey god who has his ears, mouth and eyes covered, Deosaran said the legislation would produce the ’monkey effect’ where people would be deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to giving evidence.

He said this was the case of a maid who had witnessed the gang of thieves in action. However, when approached to give a statement she refused in fear.

’People will see crimes, they will see robberies and even murders and they will hear no evil and see no evil and therefore speak no evil,’ said Deosaran.

He said the legislation was no silver bullet and added that it was like a grand wedding without a groom. ’When I think about the seriousness of the problem such as the scenario in Champ Fleurs and St Joseph as I just described, I think we are providing an aspirin when you need intensive care or maybe surgery.’