11 Jamaat members on arms, ammo charges

ELEVEN members of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen appeared in court yesterday charged with being in possession of one pistol and 21 rounds of ammunition.

The dock at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court was so small that the 11 defendants could not be accommodated there. Some of the Muslimeen members had to stand outside the dock while the magistrate dealt with the matter. Appearing in court were Kern Garcia, Sayif Noreiga, Adell Alleyne, Haylin Popwell, Avid Reece, Fitzroy Campbell, Allen Joseph Luke, Neil George, Tris Tram Mc Clean, Bernard Coltes, and Joel Chase. They were charged with being in possession of a pistol and 21 rounds of ammunition at the Western Main Road, Carenage, last Saturday. Three attorneys — Ian Brooks, Patrick Godson-Phillips, and Joseph Melville — represented the defendants.

Magistrate Melvin Daniel read the charge to the defendants, saying the matter was laid indictably and that they were not called upon to plead. But Brooks was fiery when called upon. He said the defendants were charged since Saturday. He said he spoke with the complainant on Sunday and yesterday and found out that his clients were sent to the Besson Street Police Station. “These prisoners were moved from Carenage and not taken to the stations with adequate accommodation like St James, Four Roads or West End. They were taken to Besson Street which may have the worst housing for prisoners,” Brooks added.

Brooks said he had been trying to have the matter heard in the proper jurisdiction — the Chaguaramas Magistrates’ Court. “But low and behold, at quarter to twelve today, I found out that the police were bringing the prisoners to the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. Where is the justice?” he asked. Brooks found it very strange that the complainant was not in court. “Why is the complainant not here?” he asked. The police prosecutor responded by saying that the complainant was on an exercise. “What exercise? Where are the exhibits? Has the complainant sent a message?” Brooks asked. Admitting that the offences for which his clients were charged were serious and prevalent, Brooks felt that the defendants still had be treated properly.

Melville sought bail for the lone client he represented. He asked that his client be given bail or released because “the police have been doing this on a daily basis. They are not coming to court and are holding things up,” he added. Melville noted that the complainant could have been liming instead of being on an exercise. “Exercise is a meaningless phrase as far as I am concerned,” the defence counsel told the court. Magistrate Daniel said he would like to have tracing done on the defendants before he deals with the issue of bail. But again, he was told that the complainant was absent. Daniel promised to deal with the bail issue today if the results of the tracing are not produced.