Former Government Min-ister Dhanraj Singh wanted Hansraj Sumairsingh dead. He hired two hitmen to do the job — Elliot Hypolite and Steve Cummings. After the hit, Hypolite wanted $60,000 from Dhanraj so that he could flee the country, but all he got was $7,000.

This was the contention of special prosecutor Sir Timothy Cassel QC as he made his opening address to the jury yesterday to start the trial of Dhanraj  for the murder of Sumairsingh.
At the end of yesterday’s hearing nine witnesses had testified, including Sumairsingh’s two children, Visham and Kavita, and his wife Sandra. Dhanraj is before Justice Paula Mae Weekes charged with murdering Sumairsingh, Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, on a date unknown between December 28, 1999 and January 1, 2000. Cassel explained that if you are paying for a contract killing and it is carried out, you are guilty of murder as if you had done the killing with your own hands. He  told the jury that Hypolite, also called Abdullah, had received full immunity from prosecution for his part in the killing of Sumairsingh on condition he testified against Dhanraj whom he claimed had hired him. 

He revealed to the jury of seven men and five women that the evidence against Dhanraj comes substantially from the mouth of one of the killers – Hypolite, and that it was  inevitable in these cases that, distasteful as it obviously is, the contract killer will be called as a witness for the prosecution. He said it was a matter of grave concern of course that the State has to rely on such a witness, and went on to admit that Hypolite has evaded all punishment for what he has done. He said: “This of course must affect his credit. And you will be examining his evidence with the minutest care before you act upon it.” Cassel said that the motive behind the killing may never be known although it may have had something to do with the Unemployment Relief Programme. He said after Dhanraj ordered the hit on Sumairsingh, Hypolite, Cummings who was also called Chen and another man, went to Sumairsingh’s Tabaquite home on December 27, 1999 with the obvious intention to kill Sumairsingh, but were not given an opportunity.

The jury further heard that they would hear evidence how Hypolite and Chen went to Sumairsingh’s beach house on the night of December 30, 1999 and Chen shot Sumairsingh twice. They then escaped in a red  Mazda 323. While escaping, Hypolite took a cellphone he saw in the house and later  threw it over the Ortoire River bridge. The first to testify was retired police photographer Sgt Terry Alexander, who took seven photographs of Sumairsingh’s  beach house situated on Eccles Road, Grand Lagoon, Mayaro and the scene of the murder. Visham, Kavita and their stepmother Sandra,  all testified how they became worried when they did not hear from Sumairsingh after he left home on December 30, for their Mayaro beach house. The following day the trio went to the beach house in search of him. The  doors were locked and Visham had to break a padlock to open the kitchen door after peeping through a ventilation brick and seeing only the feet of his father. They found the body of Sumairsingh in a sitting position near a door in blood from wounds to his head and chest. His glasses was on the kitchen floor and there was blood on a sheet in a bedroom.

Asia Watson, a residence of Eccles Road, also testified that she was walking on the road about 8 pm on December 30, 1999,  when she heard two explosions coming from Sumairsingh’s house and then saw two men, one tall and the other short, with kerchiefs over their faces,  running from the house to a waiting red Mazda 323. She gave the number of the car to the police. The Court also heard from Cpl Kurt Jackson who was the first policeman on the scene. He said he secured the scene and contacted Sgt George from the Homicide Bureau. Terry Chaitram, a fisherman, said he found a cell phone in his boat which was anchored by the Ortoire River bridge. Chaitram gave the cellphone to Mervyn Ramkissoon, an operator with National Gas and fisherman in his spare time, to have the battery recharged. Ramkissoon made some inquires from a friend at TSTT and later returned the phone to Chaitram, who eventually handed it over to the  police. Karl Hudson-Phillips, who is leading the defence team, questioned some of the witnesses as to whether the police had called on them to identify the red car or any of the occupants  in it.  Also in the defence team are Ravi Rajcoomar, Prakash Ramadhar and Jennifer Hudson-Phillips. Cassel leads Assistant DPP Devan Rampersad and prosecutors Angelica Teelucksingh and Charon Raphael. Hearing resumes  tomorrow.

THERE WERE tears of joy at the family home in Princes Town yesterday morning as kidnapped victim Tricia Suryadevera returned to her home after being held captive for eight days until her family paid a ransom, reportedly $300,000 for her return.

Tricia, who was kidnapped last Monday, was freed early yesterday morning, senior police officers told Newsday. She had not been harmed and was said by relatives to be in good spirits. Newsday learned that Tricia arrived home to a tumultuous welcome by relatives, in a car driven by a family member. Neighbours said there were loud cheers when Tricia emerged from the car around 1.30 am. Tricia, who got married February last, hugged her mother Sita and father, Shirkissoon. There were tears of joy from  members of the family, neighbours and friends who were participating in nightly prayer vigils at the home. One well-wisher described Tricia as being emotional, but in high spirits. She spent all yesterday resting at home. Police also confirmed that relatives of the 26-year-old woman paid a portion of the ransom money. Senior officers told Newsday that around 12.35 am yesterday, two men Barrington Jacob, of Eastern Quarry, Laventille, and Hamnan Maharaj, of Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, were in the vicinity of the traffic lights on Aranjuez Main Road, when they were flagged down by a woman of East Indian descent. The woman identified herself as Tricia and said she wanted to make a telephone call, senior police officers said.

Jacob and Maharaj stopped a police vehicle on patrol and the two officers took Tricia with the two men to the Barataria Police Station. Shortly after, acting Insp Netram Kowlessar of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) and others from the department arrived at the station as well as ASP Henry Millington. Tricia was taken away. Her parents were subsequently contacted after which the young woman was taken to a medical institution where she was medically examined and found to be “OK.” Following her medical examination, police said Suryadevera had a “preliminary chat” with members of the AKS about her eight-day ordeal. Tricia reportedly told police she had no idea where she had been kept. She was also said to have been blindfolded during her time in captivity. No arrests had been made up to late evening, and AKS officers, headed by Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes are continuing investigations.

Suryadevera was kidnapped on the morning of September 15 shortly after she opened her businessplace, Trinkets Limited, High Street, Princes Town. She was then taken away by three armed and masked men, who bundled her into a waiting Nissan B13 Sentra vehicle.  Hours later, the kidnappers telephoned Suryadevera’s father, Teeluck Shirkissoon and demanded a $2 million ransom for her safe release. Relatives were reluctant to speak to the media yesterday.  One woman who answered the telephone would only say that Tricia was “OK.”   The woman refused to give her name and did not want to comment further.  She then hung up the phone. The family’s four business places, located close to each other in Princes Town remained closed yesterday. Even a truck loaded with furniture attempted to conduct a delivery, but relatives refused to respond to the driver’s calls. Around midday Tricia’s brother Taurel Teelucksingh said he was busy on the telephone taking calls from relatives abroad, and could say nothing at this time. All he said was that his sister had not been harmed by the kidnappers.

SAN FERNANDO detectives are investigating a suspected arson attack which has left a Debe family of seven homeless,  among them a couple who are in their eighties. 

The fire, police sources said, is believed to have originated from the family car which was parked under the house at Ramjattan-Maharaj Trace, Debe. Investigators have since seized a broken and soot-stained bottle found near the vehicle. It is believed that flames from the car, ignited the house and razed it to the ground. The family said the fire left behind over $250,000 in damage which included the value of the building and its contents. The burnt car, a Nissan March, was worth $22,000. Eighty-six-year-old Bissoon Gopaulsingh lived in the house with his family — his wife, Rookmin, 80, his two sons and their families. Gopaulsingh told police he secured his house around 9 pm on Monday and retired to bed. Shortly after midnight, he was awakened by a loud explosion, and upon investigating the noise, was faced with flames engulfing his two-storey wooden and concrete home.  The family made a mad dash for safety and could not retrieve any of their property from the fast burning house. Shocked relatives told Newsday that all that was saved from the fire were the clothes they were wearing.

Fire tenders from the Mon Repos and San Fernando Fire Stations responded to the report, but were unable to save the building. Yesterday, the pensioner’s grandson, Neil Singh, who lives next door, told Newsday that before the fire started, he noticed two strangers lurking in the area. Police are yet to find out the cause of the fire, which from preliminary investigations seems to be arson. Investigators said they intend to take the burnt bottle and soil samples to the Forensic Science Centre for specialised testing. PC Don Gajadhar is investigating.

The 22-year-old main suspect in the $50,000 bank robbery at the Couva branch of First Citizens Bank, who was snatched from the sea at Macqueripe on Sunday by Coast Guard officers, was denied bail when he appeared before Couva Magistrate Gillian David yesterday.  The matter was adjourned to next Monday.

Azukah Moyo, of Frederick Street, Marabella, appeared stern-faced when the charges of two counts of robbery with aggravation and one count of wounding Supt Spencer Farrel were read out to him. Magistrate David refused bail on the grounds that she wanted Moyo traced and his criminal record made known to her. As he was being led away, Moyo, who was unrepresented in court, waved to his relatives who were outside the courtroom. Moyo’s 19-year-old brother Minkah Moyo has already been charged with the same offences and he too was denied bail when he appeared in court on Friday. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a third man. Azukah was pointed out by three persons, including Supt Farrel, during an identification parade held on Monday at the Chaguanas Police Station. The charges were laid by Ag Sgt Noel Corbette of the Couva CID.

The two were arrested pending inquiries into the $50,000 robbery at the bank. Up until yesterday none of the money was recovered. Police officers under Ag Sgt Corbette carried out enquiries and held the first suspect. The second man was held on Sunday when he went for a swim at the Macqueripe beach and was spotted by an off-duty police officer. In trying to make his escape, he dove into the sea and swam away. His escape was short-lived as he was picked up by a Coast Guard patrol and handed over to the police.

A 26-year-old man was shot nine times while standing at Wharton Street, Laventille.

Reports revealed that around midday, Ian Phillip was confronted by a gunman known to him who shot him nine times. He suffered injury to both  legs and arms. Phillip was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. His condition was listed as critical. When Newsday visited the scene of the shooting yesterday, an eyewitness claimed that Phillip and the man were seen arguing. The eyewitness also revealed that a gunman pulled out the weapon and shot Phillip at point blank range. The injured man was rushed to hospital and a party of officers led by ASP Sealey and including Ag Inspector Singh, Cpl Collins and PC Edwards went to the scene and interviewed several persons. Phillip has several matters pending in court. Investigations are continuing.

THE VICE President of the Police First Division, Snr Supt Philip Carmona, who went to hand over duties to the new Snr Supt in charge of Central Division, collapsed in the office around 11 am yesterday.

He was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Centre and later transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. He underwent emergency care to clear clogged arteries and was warded late yesterday. Carmona, 57, who was in charge of Central Division up until last Thursday, was transferred with immediate effect on Thursday to the Guard and Emergency Branch. He took up duties at GEB on Friday. Yesterday, he returned to Chaguanas to hand over to the new Snr Supt Dawson Victor. Reports revealed that the athletic looking Carmona began clutching his chest and collapsed. Officers at the station rushed him to the Chaguanas Health Centre where an initial examination revealed that the senior officer had suffered a heart attack. He was rushed by ambulance to the EWMSC where doctors carried out several tests and later carried out an emergency operation to clear clogged arteries.

Attorney General Glenda Morean said yesterday that protesting State attorneys were knocking on an open door where she was concerned, and they should know that.

Speaking to reporters, she said she was very sympathetic towards all her staff, in particular the legal staff, who operated under trying circumstances. “And I have been doing all that I can to ensure that we alleviate some of the problems,” she stated. But she advised protesting lawyers to “first talk it out, let us hear (what you have to say)…I don’t think that was done in this case.” Morean yesterday launched a website at the Ministry. Speaking to reporters after the function, she said although the AG department had been taking on additional legal staff, the problem was not at the lower level. Rather it was at the middle and upper levels, she said, adding that what tended to happen was that once young attorneys got two years’ experience in the department, they left. “The difficulty really is having such terms that are attractive enough to sustain their interest in remaining in the department,” she said. The AG stated that an exercise was being done for the JLSC in terms of appraising the conditions of service for State attorneys. That exercise is not completed as yet. In the interim, she wanted attorneys to state what they wanted. “Perhaps I can do something,” she said.

The AG, who met the Director of Public Prosecutions, Geoffrey Henderson, last Friday, said that he indicated to her that he had preliminary discussions with the attorneys and that they were to come back to him with concrete suggestions. On the CJ’s statements which likened junior State attorneys to going to Lords with “coconut” bats, she said what she thought was being said by the CJ was the fact that in a lot of these cases, the accused is able to afford high priced lawyers and in those cases, a less experienced person should not be sent. The launch of the Ministry’s website — www.ag.gov.tt. — was witnessed by many secondary school students, law students, principal of Hugh Wooding Law School, Annestine Sealey and other interested persons.  She said the website would allow users to e-mail the attorney general directly with questions, concerns and even suggestions.

Stating that the experts told her that a significant percentage of the websites available were exercises in vanity, she said the Ministry had taken great pains to ensure that the focus of the website would be the work of the Ministry and not the incumbent who happens to hold the post of attorney general. “Our first objective was the creation of an Internet presence, which would become the first port of call for anyone wishing to learn the government’s position on legal and constitutional matters as well as legislative and other issues,” she said. She said the website would also provide information on Government’s legislative agenda — “Never mind what they say in Parliament. We do have a legislative agenda,” as well as critical issues like the Caribbean Court of Justice and Family Court. Some of the objectives of the website, she outlined, were to educate the public on the operations, objectives and activities of the AG and the Ministry of the AG and to provide a feedback and interaction point for the Trinidad and Tobago public and other target audiences with respect to laws, regulations and current affairs.