(Trinidad Guardian) Investigators probing the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three of her cabinet colleagues have revealed there was a well-orchestrated plan to create a major distraction in the country and immediately after, kill Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the three Cabinet members. A senior legal source, assigned to the State, and working in tandem with law enforcement entities, said so yesterday, under strict anonymity.
According to the source, the distraction would have been so huge that it would have diverted the attention of the police and military. “And while that was happening—perhaps it would have been looting—the taking over of television stations or something of that extreme and large nature to distract the armed forces, then the assassination would take place,” the source said.
“That was what we have been informed of by intelligence officers. “The officers, however, could not provide sufficient information to determine if the two plans were linked.” He said that was the reason behind the particular wording of the detention order, naming some detainees as being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate, while others were identified as the people behind a plot to destabilise Trinidad and Tobago and cause major panic.
He said, however, that up to the time the detention orders were being drafted, there was no concrete evidence to definitely link the two plots as all part of “one major plot” which would have worked in tandem with each other, hence the reason for two separate and distinct detention orders being drafted and served. The detainees, he added, were being held “merely on suspicion,” hence the reason no charges had yet been laid.
“Charges depend on real evidence…At present the detainees are being held on suspicion, pending further investigation,” the source said. “And if further investigation reveals there is enough evidence gathered to charge, then charges will be laid.” Questioned on what was the nature of the charges, he said if there was sufficient evidence, the detainees could likely be charged under the common law.
He identified conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause public disorder as two of the charges which could be laid. But with four more days to go before the state of emergency expires on December 5, and with the fate of 16 detainees precariously hanging in the balance, the State has also expressed concern that investigators were now left with only a window of opportunity to put forward a concrete case.
“Time is running out and the police have some very tough decisions to make,” the source said. And lawyers representing the detainees have also demanded why their clients were being held and what charges were expected to be laid, if any. The lawyers have also filed documents which have been received by the Special Tribunal Committee. Up to late yesterday, tribunal members were perusing the documents.
The tribunal’s chairman, Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson, said yesterday that the committee was not yet ready to proceed. A source close to the tribunal, however, said the tribunal could start hearings as early as tomorrow and could sit over the weekend. Faris Al Rawi, who is representing Ashmeed Chote, said yesterday that there was “a talk” that charges could be laid under the Anti-Terrorism Act, but added that he could not confirm whether this was true or not.
“Up to now we have no idea why our client is being detained or what are the charges expected to be laid against him,” he said. He also called on the Government to clarify particulars in the detention order which made specific reference to the wording, “A plot to destabilise T&T and cause major panic.”
