‘Bakr was not at Petrotrin’

WHEN Yasin Abu Bakr was arrested by the police on August 21, 2003, he told investigators that he may have been at Petrotrin on June 4, 2003 — the day he is alleged to have conspired with others to kill former Jamaat members Salim Rasheed and Zaki Aubaidah. Bakr gave an alibi to the police that he could never have been at 26 Citrine Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, as stated by the main prosecution witnesses Brent Miller and Brent Danglade.

But yesterday, a security guard attached to Petrotrin said otherwise.  Estate Constable Patrick Denoon, who was the person responsible for issuing passes, said no passes were issued to Bakr on June 4, 2003. Bakr was described as the financial advisor for contractor Johnson-Simon which performed salvaging work at the State-owned refinery. Denoon, the 18th witness called by the prosecution, told the jury in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court that requests were made by Johnson-Simon for Bakr to enter the compound on May 5, 12, 26, 27, and June 9, 2003. When asked by lead prosecutor Sir Timothy Cassel QC, Denoon said no passes were issued to Bakr on June 4, 2003. “My record does not show he visited on the 4th of June. The record shows everybody else who visited.”

Denoon, armed with his records, was the final witness for the prosecution in the conspiracy to murder trial of the Jamaat leader being heard before Justice Mark Mohammed. Under cross-examination by Owen Hinds Jr, Denoon said requests for passes for Bakr were normally granted for him to go to the West Area Salvage within Petrotrin’s Pointe-a-Pierre refinery. Denoon said Bakr would need a pass to get into that area. He admitted there were several areas where visitors do not need passes, including the administration building, the Materials and Purchasing Department, and the Augustus Long Hospital. Every other area, passes will be required for visitors.

Apart from the visitors’ passes, vehicles are required to get certificates for their roadworthiness. He said the security department was near to Guaracara Park and therefore he could not see what was happening at the main gate of the refinery. However, he was certain of the procedure and was adamant that Bakr needed a pass to reach the salvage area in the refinery. As far as Denoon was concerned, there is no record that Bakr was at Petrotrin on June 4, 2003. When Denoon was finished giving evidence, Cassel closed the prosecution’s case. Lead defence attorney Pamela Elder SC indicated to the judge that she wanted to make certain submissions in the absence of the jury.

Justice Mohammed sent the jury away until Monday, when it is hoped that the court will make some headway with the arguments. When hearing ended yesterday afternoon, Elder, still under the weather, was still making her submissions. There will be no sitting today as both Cassel and Elder are involved in the second Piarco corruption case which will be called before Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet at the Port-of- Spain Magistrates’ Court this morning. Cassel is leading the prosecution’s case, while Elder represents American businessman Raul Gutierrez. Two former government ministers Brian Kuei Tung and Sadiq Baksh are among 13 persons and five companies charged.