PORT OF SPAIN – The Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) has welcomed the lengthy jail sentence imposed on a former police officer, who was found guilty on charges of harbouring two Colombian women for the purpose of exploitation by prostitution.
The CTU said that the conviction Valentine Eastman is a powerful affirmation of justice and a reminder that “no one is above the law, not even those sworn to uphold it”.
Eastman, 63, was sentenced by Justice George Busby on Monday to 16 years, five months and 15 days hard labour.
Eastman, who was serving in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service at the time of the crime, was convicted on January 31, 2025, following a 2013 investigation by the CTU.
Eastman, who did not take the witness stand during the trial, had been charged between March 3 and 25, 2013, he harboured Colombian women at Princes Town in south central Trinidad for the purpose of exploitation, in the form of prostitution. They women were then carried to other locations. He was found guilty on two of these charges, but was acquitted on the charge of rape.
With support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Colombian and Chilean embassies, the CTU facilitated the return of two of the victims to testify. Their accounts, along with evidence from 14 other witnesses, formed the basis of the State’s case.
Justice Busby in passing [the] sentence considered the Trafficking In Persons Act, the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution, a lone local case available for comparison for sentencing and the United Kingdom sentencing guidelines.
The judge spoke of the prevalence of the offence; its seriousness; the level of planning for the victims’ travels from Colombia to this country and the deception that was involved to persuade them.
He said he also considered that the offences were committed for gain, threats and intimidation were use; the women were sexually exploited and faced psychological and non physical harm.
While Eastman had no previous convictions, the judge noted the seriousness of the offences and its aggravating factors wholly outweighed his previous clean record. (CMC)
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