The Trinidad Express on Tuesday quoted Police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs as saying that police have not found enough evidence linking 17 men to an alleged assassination plot against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three Government ministers.
The paper said Gibbs was responding to questions about a report in The Sunday Express that stated that the police probe into the allegations, which was led by Supt John Daniel of the North Eastern Division, found no evidence to suggest the 17 former detainees were involved in an alleged assassination or destablisation plot.
The paper stated in its Sunday edition that its sources said information about the plot was based on hearsay.
The Express said its reporters questioned Gibbs Monday who confirmed that police found no hard evidence. However he noted that the investigation will continue, even though there is no evidence at this time to support the assassination claim.
The paper said Gibbs was responding to questions about a report in The Sunday Express that stated that the police probe into the allegations, which was led by Supt John Daniel of the North Eastern Division, found no evidence to suggest the 17 former detainees were involved in an alleged assassination or destablisation plot.
The paper stated in its Sunday edition that its sources said information about the plot was based on hearsay.
The Express said its reporters questioned Gibbs Monday who confirmed that police found no hard evidence. However he noted that the investigation will continue, even though there is no evidence at this time to support the assassination claim.
"There was information, intelligence that would suggest that there was a plot. That's the information that we acted on. We'd be remiss if we hadn't acted on that information to ensure the safety and security of the individuals involved," the Express quoted Gibbs as saying.
"Coming out of that, of course our investigations so far have not revealed that there is enough evidence to take some of the charges, or to take charges to court, so we will continue on that. We'll wait for the final evaluation on all our investigations from that point," the commissioner added.
The paper also quoted acting National Security Minister Herbert Volney as saying that Persad-Bissessar did not need any evidence to act on intelligence that there was an alleged plot to assassinate her and three Government ministers.
It said Volney made the statement in a telephone interview in which he said police are investigating whether any act of treason was committed.
"There is no such criminal offence of a plot. There is an offence called treason and there is no evidence of treason (and) I expect the police to have reported that. As to whether there was a plot is a national security issue and that does not require evidence for the security forces to advise the PM to act," the Express quoted Volney as saying.
The Express said Volney made a distinction between between intelligence and evidence, saying there appears to be some misunderstanding with the two by members of the media.
"Coming out of that, of course our investigations so far have not revealed that there is enough evidence to take some of the charges, or to take charges to court, so we will continue on that. We'll wait for the final evaluation on all our investigations from that point," the commissioner added.
The paper also quoted acting National Security Minister Herbert Volney as saying that Persad-Bissessar did not need any evidence to act on intelligence that there was an alleged plot to assassinate her and three Government ministers.
It said Volney made the statement in a telephone interview in which he said police are investigating whether any act of treason was committed.
"There is no such criminal offence of a plot. There is an offence called treason and there is no evidence of treason (and) I expect the police to have reported that. As to whether there was a plot is a national security issue and that does not require evidence for the security forces to advise the PM to act," the Express quoted Volney as saying.
The Express said Volney made a distinction between between intelligence and evidence, saying there appears to be some misunderstanding with the two by members of the media.
The paper said the minister stated that the law was observed by the Government and the subsequent detention of 17 men was done based on the intelligence and not evidence.
He insisted that based on intelligence gathered the plot was real and the issue of there being a plot was a matter of national security and had nothing to do with the police.
"What happened in this particular case is that given the intelligence that was obtained by the intelligence-gathering facilities of the State, it was determined that there was a clear and present danger to the lives of certain members of the Government. That did not rise to the level of a police investigation of treason.
"It was a national security issue and, accordingly given the powers of the Minister of National Security, he signed detention orders in respect of those persons that the intelligence-gathering organisations of the State had determined were involved in this (alleged) attempt at destablisation of the country. This information was subsequently turned over to the Commissioner of Police in order for him to see whether there is any criminal offence," Volney said.
According to the Express, Volney said there is a distinction between arresting a person on suspicion of committing an arrestable offence and detaining a person under State of Emergency Regulations, which is not a police matter.
"What has happened is that while the national security interest determined that persons should have been detained, and they were detained under the regulations of the SoE, the police looked at what was available and the intelligence for one reason or the other that I would not go into for national security considerations."
The paper said Volney explained that persons who give intelligence do not always come forward and sign statements to provide evidence to the police.
"That is just one example of how national security intelligence gathering sometimes does not turn into evidence when it is that the police investigate. So both sides are likely to be correct.
He insisted that based on intelligence gathered the plot was real and the issue of there being a plot was a matter of national security and had nothing to do with the police.
"What happened in this particular case is that given the intelligence that was obtained by the intelligence-gathering facilities of the State, it was determined that there was a clear and present danger to the lives of certain members of the Government. That did not rise to the level of a police investigation of treason.
"It was a national security issue and, accordingly given the powers of the Minister of National Security, he signed detention orders in respect of those persons that the intelligence-gathering organisations of the State had determined were involved in this (alleged) attempt at destablisation of the country. This information was subsequently turned over to the Commissioner of Police in order for him to see whether there is any criminal offence," Volney said.
According to the Express, Volney said there is a distinction between arresting a person on suspicion of committing an arrestable offence and detaining a person under State of Emergency Regulations, which is not a police matter.
"What has happened is that while the national security interest determined that persons should have been detained, and they were detained under the regulations of the SoE, the police looked at what was available and the intelligence for one reason or the other that I would not go into for national security considerations."
The paper said Volney explained that persons who give intelligence do not always come forward and sign statements to provide evidence to the police.
"That is just one example of how national security intelligence gathering sometimes does not turn into evidence when it is that the police investigate. So both sides are likely to be correct.
"Intelligence was gathered on that basis the minister signed the detention orders, quite legitimately and persons were detained. The police then investigated for the commission of criminal offences and they came up short with evidence, for reasons best known to them," Volney told the paper.
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