PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Seven months after they were detained by Venezuelan authorities, five Trinidad and Tobago nationals have been charged with terrorism and criminal conspiracy.
The Trinidad Express newspaper Saturday named the five as Dominic Clive Pitilal, 33; Andre Joseph Battersby, 56; Asim Luqman, 34; Charles Wade, 36; and Leslie Daisley, noting that they could face up to 25 years in jail, if found guilty of the charges.
The newspaper said that the charges were laid earlier this week and quoted Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador to Venezuela, David Edghill, as confirming that the men had been charged.
“It is correct what you have said about the men, and we are planning a consular visit to the men next Monday once we are given the necessary permission. We have actually tried to reach the detainees by phone as well but have been unsuccessful. We will offer as much consular assistance as possible, but cannot interfere with the court and the criminal charges,” Edghill told the newspaper.
The court in Caracas ruled on Tuesday that eight people arrested last April, including the five Trinidadian nationals, will stand trial for charges of terrorism and criminal conspiracy.
The indictment was also confirmed against Haitian-born Jules Joseph, now a naturalised Venezuelan, as well as Rafael José Durán from El Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SEBIN) and Gregorio Socorro Montañez from the Bolivarian national police, for committing the crimes of conspiracy and treason.
