Cleric: They are all innocent

A Ministry press release stated that Dominic Pitilal, Wade Charles, Leslie Daisley, Andre Battersby and Asim Luqman, who have been incarcerated in Venezuela since March 19, 2014, would be returning home after being convicted of terrorism charges. Contacted for comment, Abdullah told Newsday they were informed that the men were acquitted of the charges and are returning home as innocent men.

“I am not going to change my position. I was reliably informed that these five would be returning home innocent of all charges,” said Abdullah. “It is my information that the five have been cleared of all matters. I understand that (National Security Minister Edmund) Dillon has said otherwise, but I will address that matter further, once the men return home.” Abdullah said that he and his organisation are at the moment focused on having the five returned home safely. Newsday was told that officials at the Servicio Bolivariano de Intellgencia National (SE BIN) prison have completed all the paperwork for the release of the men, which will be forwarded to the Venezuelan immigration department for processing. It is hoped the men would be back home and with their families this weekend.

Abdullah said he was brought to tears when he received news that the five would be released.

“This has been a trying experience for everyone involved. We have been through many ups and downs, and we have experienced several challenges. The rights of these five men have been trampled upon. There has been a total disregard for their rights. Even in the trial, there were several inconsistencies. This has been a real struggle, but at last we are almost at the end of this experience.

We are just waiting for our boys to come home” Abdullah said that he has reached out to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, to assist in arranging a quarantine zone for the men so that they can be checked for diseases before they go to their families. “Each of these men and their families have to pick up the pieces of their lives after this experience,” Abdullah said.