AG: Swift justice for threats to judiciary

Justice will be meted out swiftly to any member of the public threatening a judge or members of the judiciary, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has said. His statement came on the heels of a police investigation into a series of threats made against High Court Judge Mark Mohammed and several members of judiciary staff. Threats in the forms of letters were delivered during the recent sedition trial of Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr under a letterhead reportedly bearing the name of an Islamic group. In an interview, Ramlogan said: “Any threats to any member of the judiciary or any employee in the adminstration of justice is a serious matter.” He said T&T had an independent, strong and impartial system of justice that was the envy of many nations.  

 

He added: “Incidents such as these will be treated with a sense of urgency and dealt with swiftly. “A thorough investigation will be conducted and certainly no stone will be left unturned. We must get to the bottom of any attempt to intimidate, threaten or harass members of the judiciary. It is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” Meanwhile, head of the Islamic Missionaries Guild, Imtiaz Mohammed, said members of the Islamic community were being victimised. Mohammed called on police to show the evidence. He added: “I saw the report and no evidence. Who is this organisation? Why don’t the police come forward and say which organisation it is because this is confusing.  “Who is this organisation? Is it local or outside? This could be rumours and they need to hold a press conference and let the public know.” He said their organisation did not support threatening judges. Mohammed said members of the Muslim community were being hunted locally by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “We are followed by FBI and CIA agents in T&T. We are questioned and interrogated and then deported if we go to the United States.  “Reputable Muslim businessmen are getting their visas revoked and even have to repay for them. Muslim women have to take off their veils and their privacy is being violated or told to strip in the presence of officers,” he said. Mohammed said he wrote officials in Washington requesting they investigate.

 

He added: “I will call for a protest and they must know they can’t do that here. Of course it is discrimination and victimisation against Muslims all over the world. “I went to Tobago and photographs were taken of me with two Pakistani guests at Crown Point beach. They are the most humanitarian people. They work in the United Kingdom, Haiti and different projects and are even sending funding for people of Diego Martin.” Mohammed said the majority of Muslims were law-abiding citizens with no criminal records. “The majority of Muslims don’t appear before a magistrate or judge in this country. We have our way of life and Islam teaches peace. It is a complete way,” he added. Acting Police Commissioner, Stephen Williams, was called for comment but said questions should be referred to Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson. “I have assigned DCP Richardson to have the executive lead on all matters relating to crime and investigation,” Williams said. Richardson said the matter was under investigation and it was too early to comment.