“Don’t even think about interrogating my husband.”
This was the angry warning to Government and the police yesterday from Saddiqua Pitilal, wife of one of the five T&T men now awaiting deportation home from Venezuela after last Saturday’s court verdict against them.
Mrs Pitilal made it clear any attempt to question her husband on his return home should not be done without his attorney at his side.
The five — Dominic Pitilal, Wade Charles, Leslie Daisley, Andre Battersby and Asim Luqman — were detained in Venezuela since March 19, 2014.
The Attorney General’s office yesterday confirmed they were held on terrorism-related charges.
During a May meeting in Port-of-Spain between Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, Government asked for the matter regarding the men to be expedited but stressed it could not interfere in another State’s judicial process.
Much later, the charges were changed to intention to commit espionage and to commit a criminal act. Around 1.30 am last Saturday, the men were found guilty by the Venezuelan court.
The Attorney General’s office, in an update yesterday, stated:
“These five individuals were subjected to a judicial process in the courts of Venezuela in accordance with due process. Legal proceedings were recently completed and the individuals were found guilty of certain criminal offences and sentenced.
“The learned trial judge further held that the guilty individuals had served their sentences, having been incarcerated since March 2014. Government continues to receive information from the Venezuelan Government with respect to pending deportation and will at the appropriate time provide further details. “
The AG’s office stated the men were being prepared for release from Venezuela’s Sebin prison and deportation to Trinidad.
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said yesterday he had no information on the return date. Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses, denying television claims it was today, said: “We’re following it closely.”
Mrs Pitilal, Dominic Pitilal’s wife, said no official has contacted the families. She warned off authorities from questioning or interrogating her husband after noting Dillon had confirmed the men would be questioned on their arrival in T&T.
She said: “I would like to tell the minister and police they better bat in their crease this time. They’re not going to violate the rights of my husband. He has legal representation and under no circumstances is he going to be interrogated or have his civil rights violated this time around again.
“Even if they ask his name, he must have his lawyer sitting right next to him to answer. I’m very serious. It’s two years-plus he suffered in jail and his rights must be protected.”
Mrs Pitilal said she spoke to her husband yesterday morning and physically the men appear okay but neither she nor they had any idea when they would be deported.
“They packed to leave since last Saturday morning after the trial but all my husband said they are telling them is they have work to do to process the situation. Nobody told them when they’re going home. So they’re still locked up in jail. I’s illegal.
“None of the families heard anything. We understand there would be paperwork but nobody even contacted us. The (TT) embassy should have something in place to handle the matter properly,“ she added.
Enterprise Imam Taulib Searles said a Venezuelan associate who had assisted the men with their case in Venezuela would arrive in T&T today.
Former National Security Minister Gary Griffith said the men’s families contacted him yesterday in the absence of information to find out how the return might be done.