Richardson defends SOE arrests

“We had cogent, compelling intelligence before us that something bad was to happen and we had to act,” Richardson said as he gave evidence in a false imprisonment claim brought by Boney against the State.

Justice Vasheist Kokaram is the judge hearing the matter in the Port of Spain High Court. Boney, who is on remand for gang-related charges, was present yesterday.

He was one of some 17 people, including a police sergeant, who were arrested in connection with a threat to assassinate the then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three members of Cabinet as well as create public disorder and panic.

The men’s plan was supposed to have been executed on November 24.

Boney was released without being charged after being in custody for some five days.

“This was an assassination plot,” Richardson said. “It was a big deal.” According to Richardson who led the investigations, police acted immediately to detain “all the players” to pre-empt the plot.

“I still had the view that if we did not take pre-emptive action we would have had a situation injurious to good order,” he said.

“Thank God we acted in the way we did.” Richardson also partly revealed that the security agencies received intelligence that a person from the “Far East” was expected to arrive in Trinidad as part of the plot.

He said when he received the report on the alleged plot two weeks before November 21, 2011, he was instructed by Persad-Bissessar to conduct a full-scale investigation and within days people were detained, interviewed and useful information obtained.

Richardson said Boney’s name was on the list of suspects and surveillance and discreet inquiries were conducted by police.

He also defended the continued detention of Boney and the others after the 24-hour period under the Emergency Powers Regulations expired. “Intelligence kept coming.” Richardson said investigators had asked for more time to investigate and interview Boney and the others. He also said they received information that Boney was a gang member and denied that it was wrong to say police had no intention to charge him for anything.

He also denied a suggestion by Boney’s attorney that the only reason for his arrest was that the authorities wanted him to give them information they thought he had on criminal activity.

“That was never the reason,” Richardson responded.

Richardson also disclosed that the late Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal was advising him and his team of investigators, although he admitted that the advice of the DPP was not sought by them.

He also said he briefed the national security minister and opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley on the alleged plot.

Attorneys Coreen Findley and Rachel Thurab are representing the Attorney Genera