Detainee on alleged assassination plot files heabeas corpus writ

Cunupia: One of the men held for questioning in the alleged plot to assassinate the prime minister and three Cabinet colleagues businessman Khalil Karamath has filed a heabeas corpus writ against the state demanding to know the reasons for his detention.

A haebeas corpus writ is a judicial mandate to prison officials to bring a prisoner to court to determine if he or she is legally incarcerated.

Under the State of Emergency regulations the authorities can detain a person for up to seven days pending investigations, following which the prisoner has the right to seek judicial review before a special tribunal.

The matter was adjourned to November 29th by Justice David Harris.

On Thursday Selwyn "Robocop" Alexis withdrew a similar writ after his attorneys were given documents by the police indicating that  under section 16-1 of the State of Emergency act they had the right to detain someone for seven days.

Karamath was one of 12 persons detained between Monday and Thursday in connection with investigations into the alleged plot to assssinate Prime Minsiter Kamla Persad-Bissesar and three Cabinet colleagues.