PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad Express):
A HIT list bearing the photographs of the Attorney-General, Chief Magistrate and three attorneys, along with price tags, was found by police on Friday night at the home of a close relative of jailed Jamaat al Muslimeen executive member, Lance Small.
The relative is also a suspect in the recent Port-of-Spain bombings.
Officers from the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) found the hit list while raiding the house in search of explosives, arms and ammunition.
Police say the man "functions" at the Muslimeen and was detained for questioning Saturday night. Officers are "looking at the law" to determine whether charges can be laid.
The five names on the list are Attorney-General John Jeremie, Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls, head of the Central Authority Unit, David West, Douglas Mendes, S.C., and Independent Senator Dana Seetahal.
The Sunday Express learnt that newspaper photographs of the five had been pasted on a piece of cardboard and next to each picture was a cash figure: Jeremie TT$600,000, McNicolls TT$300,000, Mendes TT$500,000, Seetahal, TT$270,000 and West TT$258,000.
The cardboard document was modelled after Small's arrest warrant of last year. It was headed 'Warrant of Arrest' and dated April 7, 2004.
The five were instrumental in the extradition of Small to face gun-running charges in the United States. Small has since been found guilty and sentenced to jail.
LEGAL TECHNICALITY
Jeremie had amended the legislation under which Small was first arrested to ensure he was held a second time after getting off on a legal technicality. Small's case was heard before McNicolls, while Seetahal and Mendes represented the State along with West, whose department handles extradition matters.
But police investigators said they were not "limiting the threats of intention to any one matter", adding that "all angles are being looked at and nothing is being taken for granted."
SECURITY BEEF-UP
Earlier this year, Jeremie reported that he had received several death threats, while last year McNicolls beefed up his private security during and after the preliminary enquiry into conspiracy to murder charges against Muslimeen leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr.
With the exception of West, those named on the hit list are also involved in this month's arrest and prosecution of Bakr on sedition and arms charges.
Bakr's pending court matters have come up before McNicolls, and Seetahal and Mendes are prosecuting in the sedition and arms possession case.
The CIU, under Assistant Commissioner of Police James Philbert, officers from the K-9 Unit with bomb detection dogs and a police explosive expert raided the house on Hermitage Road, Gonzales, around 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The Sunday Express learnt that police used the powers of their search warrant to raid the premises as no one was at home at the time of the exercise.
On Saturday Philbert met with Police Commissioner Trevor Paul on the matter to conduct a "threat assessment" and to work out "special security" measures for the five people.
Police sources said they were taking the matter "very seriously", describing the hit list as a "message" of intention.
Senior officers said the security of the people involved was "paramount" and that "those people must feel safe because they are the ones who prosecute criminals".
Marked for death
Jeremie - $600,000
McNicolls - $300,000
Mendes - $500,000
Seetahal - $270,000
West - $258,000
