(Trinidad Express) Four men held by police last week in connection with the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three government ministers were yesterday served with detention orders signed by National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy.
The men identified in four separate detention orders are Ashmeed Choate; Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis; Chionesu Luqman also called “Asim Cuffie” and “Salim Luqman”; and Shane “Asadullah” Crawford.
Choate, 56, of 167 Craignish Road, Princes Town, is principal of the Darul Qur’an Wal Hadith Islamic School, of Calcutta No 2, Freeport. He has been identified in the detention order as “the mastermind behind a plot to destabilise Trinidad and Tobago and cause major panic.”
Yesterday, they were taken from various police stations where they were being detained by police to the Eastern Detention Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre, at Santa Rosa, Arima.
That facility, which was opened two months ago to house detainees under the State of Emergency, is being operated by prisons officers. The facility was temporarily closed because of a leaking roof.
The four men were the first persons to be detained by police under the Emergency Powers Regulations of 2011 which authorised the police to keep the suspects for questioning for seven days.
The Express was able to obtain copies of the detention orders which were signed by Sandy yesterday, authorising the prison authorities to lawfully detain the four men.
Sandy, who addressed the media at a press conference called at his Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, office yesterday, made the disclosure that he signed detention orders for four men and other orders are expected to be signed in relation to the other nine detained suspects.
Late yesterday the detention orders were published in the Gazette, a requirement under the existing laws.
But, the detention of Alexis, Luqman, Crawford and Choate will automatically come to an end on December 5, when the State of Emergency, which was announced by Persad-Bissessar on August 21, ends.
When the SoE expires, the police will either have to charge the detainees with an offence or set them free. Sandy also said the State has considered pursuing the investigations under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
“By then (when the SoE expires) we should have sufficient evidence to pursue the matter. If we don’t, then they will have to be released.”
“…There are deadlines we need to work with and this is why the four were taken today (yesterday) because they were the first four to be arrested,” Sandy said.
Anyone found guilty under the Anti-Terrorism Act could be jailed for 25 years and any company which finances terrorist activities could be fined $2 million.
Sandy said on November 18, he was informed by Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs about the alleged plot which was supposed to be executed on November 24.
“This plot, to undermine the security and stability of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was to be executed on the 24th of November. Twenty-fourth being a significant day in the political successes of the Prime Minister.”
He said shortly after he informed Persad-Bissessar of the threat in Parliament and she was later briefed by senior police officers. With the assistance of the Defence Force, police were able to detain 13 suspects in a matter and five days.
Asked why the Government decided to go public with information on the assassination plot, Sandy said, the Prime Minister did so in order to quell rumours that were circulating.
“I think the honourable Prime Minister felt it was time to apprise the general citizenry, in that a lot of rumours were flying to and fro about another coup and things like that so she thought it best to come to the community and tell them what was happening,” Sandy said.
Questioned on whether law enforcement were tapping telephones to assist in gathering intelligence, Sandy said, “Everything is being used to gather intelligence. I am not saying that wire-tap is being used but everything is being used.”
In response to a question on whether police enquiries have revealed the possible involvement of Opposition politicians or members of certain organisations he said, “The thought has occurred. But I would not want to comment on that from the political perspective but we are looking now at the strategic operational aspects of things, but I will not want to comment on the political side of things.”
He said regardless how high someone’s security is, it could be breached at any time. “The Prime Minister felt she should continue doing what she had to do and the security around her will take care of her. … but then what do you do (if someone wants to kill you), stay underground forever? It doesn’t make sense,” Sandy said.
Four Senior Counsel—Dana Seetahal, Kenneth Lalla, Israel Khan and Theodore Guerra —have been retained by the Government to give legal advice regarding arrests arising out of the SoE.
Sandy also urged the public to call 800-0699 or 800-0700 should they observe any suspicious activities in their communities.
The Police Commissioner, who had earlier refused to answer questions but acceded after being pressed by media personnel, said he was not prepared to answer any questions relating to the investigations.
“Our investigations are thorough as we make them and part of the investigations means that it doesn’t stop because of a timeline has come and gone. We continue looking at evidence, whatever intelligence, whatever information we can gather because in the future, that may be very important to us with regards the any future threat against national security,” Gibbs said.