‘That is a joke,’ says Bakr

WHEN Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr was informed that he was suspected of conspiring to kill Salim Rasheed, he replied, “that is a joke.” This was revealed yesterday by Asst Supt Ruthven Paul, of the Homicide Bureau, San Fernando, as the conspiracy to murder trial of the Muslimeen leader resumed yesterday before Justice Mark Mohammed in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court. After no court was held on Wednesday because of an ill juror, hearing resumed yesterday with PC Michael Veronique being further cross-examined by lead defence attorney Pamela Elder SC. When he had completed his testimony, it was ASP Paul’s turn.

Paul told the jury that on August 21, 2003, he was on enquiries at Kent House, Maraval — the offices of the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP). He said he saw the accused there, approached him and identified himself as a police officer. Paul told the accused that he was investigating a report of conspiracy to murder and that he had information that the accused and another person conspired to murder Salim Rasheed. Paul said he cautioned Bakr and informed him of his legal rights to which the Jamaat leader replied, “that is a joke.” Bakr was arrested and instead of going in a police vehicle, he was allowed to drive his own vehicle, to the Homicide Bureau, Port-of-Spain. When asked why, Paul said he did not want to leave the Imam’s vehicle unattended at Kent House that day.

Paul said he sat in the front passenger seat, while Cpl Jayson Forde occupied the back seat as Bakr drove his vehicle to the Homicide Bureau. Two prisons officers also testified for the prosecution yesterday. Dale Sennon, who is attached to the Port-of-Spain State Prison, said that on July 28, 2003, Bakr visited then murder accused Brent Miller at the city jail. At the time, Miller’s wife Alicia Bennett and mother Ursula George were also visiting the inmate. Another prisons officer, Mark Rougier, said on that day, he supervised the visit to Miller by the Jamaat leader. Rougier said he could not hear what was being said between Miller and Bakr, but described the mood as cordial.

When hearing resumes at 8.30 am today, the main investigator Cpl Forde will take the witness stand. Lead prosecutor Sir Timothy Cassel QC informed the court yesterday that he intends to serve fresh evidence on the defence today relating to the issue raised by the defence with respect to telephone records of Brent Miller’s cell phone. Cassel said he would serve the fresh evidence today, giving the defence the weekend to study it before calling the witness on Monday to verify the telephone records. Once again, hearing ends at 12.30 pm to allow Bakr and his followers to attend the Friday Juma services at Mucurapo Road.