Court Declares Police Search Of THA Secretary Zorisha Hackett’s Home Unlawful

Tobago House of Assembly Secretary of Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries Zorisha Hackett says she feels vindicated after a judge ruled that a police search of her home, in relation to the “audio-gate scandal”, was illegal.

In July 2023, Ms Hackett, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and other members of the THA were subject to search warrants issued by the police following the circulation of a voice note alleging the use of THA resources to spread political propaganda.

Police searched the homes of those involved and seized electronic devices. However, in a judgment handed down by Justice Kevin Ramcharan on Thursday, the actions of the police were deemed unlawful, arbitrary, unnecessary, disproportionate and invalid in law.