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SIX men, including two police officers, were freed of multiple child trafficking and sexual offence charges after the state failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

The ruling came during a sufficiency hearing before High Court Master Margret Sookraj-Goswami on December 9.

The six — Insp Rajesh Gokool, PC Richard Lalbeharry, Vicash Ramtahal, Andrew George, Matthew Ross and Julio Perez — had been charged with counselling a gang and recruiting, transporting, transferring and harbouring a child for exploitation. Additional charges varied among the men, including trafficking in children for exploitation; knowingly receiving a benefit from child trafficking; sexual penetration of a child; misbehaviour in public office; and paying for sexual services of a child.