Man charged over offensive Facebook post about T&T PM

Rayad Mohammed

(Trinidad Express) Police have charged Rayad Mohammed, the man who wrote a Facebook post directed at Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, his wife and daughter.

Mohammed, who apologised for the disturbing post when it became widely known, has been charged with sending a grossly offensive message, an offence under the Summary Offences Act.

Mohammed was detained by police last Saturday and remained in custody until last night, when he was granted his own bail and allowed to leave the San Fernando Police Station.

Rayad Mohammed

“Someone should find ROWLEY daughter and wife and slit their throats N rape them” was the post linked to Mohammed last Friday.

The statement was condemned by most, and on Saturday, Mohammed messaged the Express with an apology.

He wrote: “I Rayad Ryan Mohammed am truly and deeply regretful about the post that went viral yesterday. It was said in anger and I meant no harm or malicious intent to anyone in the Rowley family. I was simply very angry by the state of crime in the country and what appears to be the lack of concern from those in authority. The offending post has been removed”.

Mohammed is expected to appear in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court today.

Section 106 of the Summary Offences Act Chapter: 11:02 states:

“Any person who (a) sends any message by telephone which is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character, (b) sends any message by telephone, telegram, which he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to any other person, or (c) persistently makes telephone calls without reasonable cause and for such purpose as mentioned above, is liable on summary conviction to a find of $200 or to imprisonment for one month.”