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BLOGGER and social media activist Vishal Persad has been permitted to file a claim to compel the Commissioner of Police to decide on his freedom of information request application to uncover details about the involvement of UK forensic investigator Kate McMahon and her firm, Edmonds Marshall McMahon (EMM), in police investigations in Trinidad and Tobago.

On February 18, Persad’s legal team, attorneys Kiel Taklalsingh, Keron Ramkhalwhan, and Anwar Hosein, submitted a formal request to acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin. The request sought official documents that reveal the terms of any contracts between the police service and McMahon or EMM, the payments made to date, and any communications between McMahon, EMM, the police service, and the Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD).

However, his application, filed on May 8, said no access decision has been provided to him. On June 10, Justice Marissa Robertson granted leave allowing him to advance his claim.