Profiles of four T&T plot suspects

(Trinidad Express) Ashmeed Choate, 56, an Islamic scholar is also the principal of the Darul Qur’an Wal Hadith Islamic School, of Calcutta No 2, Freeport.

He studied in Saudi Arabia and while his khutbahs (sermons) are considered controversial, many in the Islamic community said they were shocked to learn of the man’s arrest.

Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis, 47, of Freedom Street, Enterprise Village, Chaguanas, has been described by police as being involved in serious crimes including kidnapping and robberies.

Even though he has been arrested and charged with offences such as murder and robbery, he has never been convicted.

Only recently, he was convicted and fined by on charges of assaulting four police officers while in custody on a murder charge at the cell block of the Chaguanas Magistrate’s Court.

He was held two Mondays ago at his home and taken to the Belmont Police Station where he was kept for seven days.

Only three weeks ago, Alexis, was released on a murder charge after he was detained by officers of the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) while watching television at a multi-million dollar apartment at the One Woodbrook Place, Woodbrook.

During that arrest, which took place on August 30, police claimed they found material which fitted the profile of an assassination plot against Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Brig John Sandy.

But, in a recent interview with TV6’s Crime Watch talk show host Ian Alleyne, shortly after being freed on the murder charge, Alexis categorically denied any involvement in a plot to assassinate the senior State officials.

Shane “Asadullah” Crawford, 34, of Dass Branch Trace, Enterprise Village, Chaguanas, and Balisier Road, Smith Field Lands, Wallerfield, who owns an interior and exterior business at Warrenville, Cunupia, is currently before the Arima court on charges of allegedly being in possession of a gun and ammunition.

He is jointly charged with his wife Jamilla Onika Luqman, 22, of Bournes Road, St James, and Wallerfield and Milton John Algernon, also known as Fareed Mustapha, 34, of Hibiscus Arch Road, Rio Claro and Campo Village, Cunupia.

Algernon, a director of the Trinidad and Tobago Agricultural Society and the vice president of the Goat and Sheep Society.

The trio first appeared in the Arima First Court charged with allegedly being in possession of a Glock 9 mm pistol, 110 live rounds of assorted ammunition and four firearm magazines. It is alleged on September 10, the accused were held with the items at Balisier Road, Smith Field Lands, Wallerfield, by officers of the Region II Homicide Bureau of Investigations.

Chionesu Luqman, 32, also called Asim Cuffie and Salim Luqman, has addresses at Mon Repos Road and Upper Malick Morvant; Thomas Trace, East Dry River, Port of Spain; St Margaret’s Lane, Belmont and La Platte Drive, Valencia.

Luqman, who police said is a labourer, is also the brother-in-law of Crawford.