Jamaat al Muslimeen lead- er, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, spent a second night in jail as he re- mained in police custody yes- terday for questioning about the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal.
Although Bakr had been de-tained early Monday morning, after a search of his home in Long Circular, St James, investigators did not begin interviewing him until mid-afternoon yesterday.
After answering questions for about an hour, a break was taken and it was not clear when the interrogation would resume but Bakr’s family was told he would not be released, his son, Fuad Abu Bakr, informed reporters outside Central Police Station, Port-of- Spain, last evening.
“They started the interview (about 3 pm), they were interviewing him for over an hour and they took a break. I think at his request. So they are to recommence that interview. I don’t know if it’s now or if it’s tomorrow (today) but they indicated that they are going to keep him overnight again,” Fuad said. At about 1 pm yesterday, Bakr’s lawyer Criston Williams arrived at the station and confirmed to reporters that the police were going to question Bakr about Seetahal’s murder.
Eight persons were also detained in Carapo in connection with the murder.
Seetahal was shot multiple times by unknown assailants, on May 4, 2014, as she was driving towards her home at One Woodbrook Place after leaving the Ma Pau casino a short distance away. Her murder is yet to be solved.
According to police reports, at about 4.30 am, on Monday a party of officers from the Western Di- vision, the Guard and Emergency Branch and the Port-of-Spain Di- vision descended on Bakr’s home in Long Circular where they executed a search warrant. Police also carried out searches in Carapo and Diego Martin.
Having waited for two days out- side the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) office; along the north side of the National Li- brary and Information System of Trinidad and Tobago (NALIS), yesterday evening Fuad and other Praying for Bakr: Fuad Abu Bakr leads Muslimeen followers in prayer outside the National Library, nearby the Central Police Station, Port- of-Spain where his father, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, remained in police custody last evening. Photo by Roger Jacob relatives, along with several sup- porters, vowed to maintain a pres- ence there until Bakr is released.
It was reported that Bakr had “a pleasant night’s rest” on Monday.
“We are going to stay (here) in solidarity and in support - if the Imam can endure such an ordeal, we can endure it as well. So we ask the public, brothers, sisters, to pass, show your support. We are going to be here until he is released,” Fuad vowed.
Questioned about his 74-year- old, diabetic, father’s health, Fuad said, “obviously these are not the best circumstances for the Imam.”
“He needs to be in his home, resting comfortably - released or from them. This is just basically what they are telling us at this charged and released, waiting for whatever bogus trial or whatever has to come. (The) Imam is beginning to get quite frustrated because he was promised to be interviewed quite some time ago and it has tak- en this long.” Bakr’s wife Anisa was allowed to provide medication and food for him.
When a supporter asked if Bakr would definitely be released some- time today, Fuad’s frustration with the entire situation was evident in his response.
“We’ve heard a lot of stuff from the police and nothing is definite Yasin Abu Bakr point. We don’t know if it will change but as far as we know, he is going to be held overnight again.”
A person can be detained for up to 72 hours, although the norm is 48 hours.
Fuad reiterated that Bakr’s family and supporters remain “confident” the Imam had “nothing whatsoever” to do with Seetahal’s murder.
“We are aghast at the fact that those investigating could have actually detained the Imam as a per- son of interest in such a matter,” Fuad declared. “Believe me, any- thing coming out of this a year and something after this lady’s horrible murder is going to fall apart, is a travesty of justice.”
Bakr’s son also told reporters if the police have “credible evidence” they should charge those suspects and “release the people who they have no information/evidence on.”
Also keeping vigil outside the station was the Muslimeen’s dep- uty leader Lorris Ballack who said Bakr’s detention was an act of “persecution”, recalling the events that led up to the Muslim organisation’s attempt to overthrow the then government on July 27, 1990, the 25th anniversary of which the nation observes next Monday.
As he spoke of the persons who were detained at the Carapo mosque, Ballack said he under- stood that “two ministers” were also implicated in Seetahal’s murder. “I did not see them arrest them or ask them any questions yet. They are probably on to them,” he said. It was disclosed yesterday that Imam Hassan Ali of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen Masjid in Carapo was among the eight persons also taken into police custody on Monday.
Among those held were his son Hamid, Stacey Griffith— the wife of Rajaee Ali, former coordinator of the Life Sport Programme who is on remand on a charge of the attempted murder of a radio DJ— brothers Stefon Cummings and Devon Cummings, Keston Seales, Deon Peters and Ricardo Stewart.
Assistant Imam of the Carapo mosque, Shafayath Ali, told News- day yesterday the detainees were being kept at police stations in Barataria, Tunapuna and Arima.
“We don’t know the whereabouts of two of our top brothers, Deon Peters and Ricardo Stewart,” he however said.
When asked why the men were detained, Shafayath, said he was only told that the police stations were holding the men for the Homicide Bureau.
“We cannot get information. All we are told is they are holding them for homicide,” he said. Police in ski masks, he said, swopped down in Carapo about 4 am and kicked down the doors of their members and “terrorised” children and adults.
“They were very abusive and pointed guns at us. They showed no search warrants. They just round up everybody and took some of our people into custody.”
Policemen went to the mosque, he said. “I told the corporal they could not go into the mosque with their boots on. They would have to take them off. They did not come into the mosque,” he said.
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