CNC3 Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne once again stunned the public when he aired a video of guns being fired off during the Islamic funeral of escaped prisoner Allan “Scanny” Martin at the public cemetery at Munroe Road, Chaguanas.
Martin was given what appeared to be a 21-gun salute, normally given at military funerals, as friends and family attended his funeral.
Martin, along with Hassan Atwell and Christopher Selby, shot their way to freedom from the Port-of-Spain Prison on Frederick Street last Friday (July 24, 2015).
Allan was later cornered on the compound of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital by tactical officers, who opened fire on him, killing him instantly. A firearm and a cellphone were found near his body.
Atwell was found murdered in east Port-of-Spain on Saturday and Selby surrendered to police on Sunday.
Martin’s funeral took place on Monday (July 27), which also marked the 25th anniversary of the 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen. Ironically, the person who led that attempted coup, Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr and his son Fuad attended the funeral.
Alleyne told the nation that it was a frightening ordeal to know that so many high-tech sounding guns were taken to a funeral for someone who was involved in a prison breakout, and allegedly in the presence of police officers.
He went on to disclose that information reaching him (Alleyne) suggested that Martin attempted to escape from prison because his intention was to “deal with a high profile person soon.” Alleyne also said he strongly believed, from the word he was hearing “from the ground,” that the upheaval within the criminal element of society was not over yet.
Alleyne also aired footage of his visit to Calvary Hill, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday night, where Atwell was allegedly killed by members of the Rasta City Gang.
Alleyne said he received information that Atwell went into the area looking for someone when he was recognised by the opposing gang members, who then took him to the Servol Life Hill Centre where they executed him and left his body there. He showed video of undertakers removing Atwell’s body from the scene, adding $600 was found in Atwell’s pants pocket and his last words were “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.”
He also showed exclusive footage from Sunday when the third prisoner, Selby, surrendered at the Barataria Police Station in the company of his attorney. Alleyne and his camera team were able to capture footage from inside a nearby house with the assistance of residents.
Alleyne ended this week by paying tribute to slain police constable Sherman Maynard, who was killed while in the line of duty outside the Port-of-Spain Prison during the daring prison break..
Maynard’s funeral took place under full military rites in Chaguanas. The service took place at the Chaguanas RC Church and was attended by many dignitaries, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, Chief of Defence Staff Major General Kenrick Maharaj, Minister of National Security Carl Alfonso and Ag CoP Williams.
UNSOLVED MYSTERY
On Wednesday, Alleyne highlighted a document, an internal memo, which was sent out on a T&T Police Service letterhead from the Special Branch Unit, which leaked information of a possible threat on the life of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The document also alleged that the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen were transporting guns throughout the country and were planning to attack the PM’s private residence in Phillipine and Siparia and free men who have been charged with the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and those charged in the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman murder trial.
Alleyne also pointed out the fact that while Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams said the document was real, he said contents of the document were not real.
He also noted an official release issued by Jamaat’s leader Yasin Abu Bakr distancing themselves from the contents of the memo.