No blame must be levelled against the police after 16 people who were detained under the Emergency Powers Regulations have been set free.Freedom was granted after police officials, at a press briefing at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, admitted there was no evidence to charge them.A senior lawyer, who was involved in the matter, said, given the nature of the offences and the people purportedly involved, the police were left with little choice but to carry out arrests and to ensure the safety and security of citizens.
He added: "If we are in a state of emergency and the police receive credible information that a plot is being hatched, especially to assassinate the Prime Minister and other Government officials, then the police had no choice in the matter but to go ahead and make arrests. How could they not?" He indicated that where the matter fell down was due to lack of credible evidence.
He added: "That was not the fault of the police."The system worked in the way it was supposed to work but who would have come forward to give evidence against these people. The men were held on suspicion."The police were having a very difficult time in the first place to gather evidence, so therefore laying charges became almost impossible and the State was left with no choice but to have the detainees released," the official added.
Describing the chain of events as unfortunate, he said it also was difficult to say whether the efforts of the police were inefficient."The police did all they could have done, given what was presented to them. They had information of named participants and named victims and that was more than sufficient to act," the official added.According to information reaching Special Branch officials, a plot was hatched to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal and Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma.
Who were detained
• Selwyn Alexis, also known as "Robocop", a businessman of Francois Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas.
• Yohann Cruickshank, also called "Wally", of Mayers Lane, Chrissie Terrace, Longdenville, Chaguanas.
• David Millard, also known as "Buffy", of 64, La Baja Road, Maracas, St Joseph.
• Andy Brown, also called "Sudan", of Green and King Streets, Plymouth, Tobago.
• Police Sergeant Earl Elie, of Sampson Trace, off Cunupia Road, Cunupia. He was last assigned to the St Clair Police Station.
• William Taylor, also known as "Billy", of Cumuto Main Road, Wallerfield, Cumuto.
• Bryan Barrington, also called "Soldier Barry", of 20, Partap Trace, South Oropouche. Barrington is a former member of the Defence Force and was dishonourably discharged from the service.
• Khalil Karamath, of 30, Palm Road, Valsayn North, Valsayn. Karamath is the son of late contractor Hafeez Karamath.
• Shane Crawford, also called "Asadullah", of 349 Dass Branch Trance, Enterprise.
• Milton Algernon, also called Fareed Mustapha , of 34, Hibiscus Arc Road, Rio Claro. Algernon is a member of the T&T Sheep and Goat Farmers' Association.
• Chionesu Luqman, also called Asim Cuffie, and also called Salim Luqman, of Mon Repos, Upper Malick, Morvant, and of Thomas Trace, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain ,and of St Margaret's Lane, Belmont.
• Ashmeed Choate, an Islamic scholar, of Craignish Road, Princes Town.
• Ashmeed Mohammed, of 21 Claude Street, La Romaine. Other addresses included Lightpole 64, Charles Street, La Romaine, and 353 Southern Main Road, La Romaine.
• Jason Brown, also called "Abdool Kareem", of 10 William Trace, El Socorro Road, San Juan.
• Zaid Abdul Hamid, of corner Richard Lane and Aping Streets, Longdenville.
• Dominic Pitilal, also called "Jamal", of 196 Western Main Road, Cocorite.