Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the probe into an alleged plot to assassinate her, and members of government has widened to involve foreign intelligence and investigative agencies. Businessman Dominic Hadeed and his wife, Genevieve Hadeed, were released on June 26 after being detained for a month.

The Prime Minister said she could not discuss the operational details of the case but confirmed that the inquiry had expanded beyond its original scope and now covered several jurisdictions. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service are working to determine whether any wider threat remains to national security.

Probe expands

Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar said she had been advised that the investigation had moved beyond the local case first handled by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. She said the inquiry now covered new areas and has become more complex as foreign agencies have joined local investigators.

She said: "I would not have any specific details on the ongoing local and foreign investigations. As Minister Roger Alexander stated in his press release, the investigation has widened beyond the original scope to new areas and across multiple jurisdictions."

According to the Prime Minister, new persons, financial institutions and businesses have also been identified as the inquiry has expanded.

The Hadeeds were held under the Emergency Powers Regulations during the ongoing State of Emergency. They have not been charged with any offence. Last Thursday, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander revoked the Preventive Detention Orders issued against them, clearing the way for their release while the criminal investigation continues.

Alexander said the decision came after he considered legal, medical and constitutional issues, as well as a recommendation from the Constitution Review Tribunal. He maintained that the revocation of the orders did not bring an end to the case, and that investigators are still pursuing the allegations.

The Homeland Security Minister said the Hadeeds would remain under monitoring and surveillance while investigators continued their work. He also said measures had been put in place to protect anyone who might still be at risk.

The Prime Minister said local and foreign authorities had warned that the investigation would take some time, and that further co-operation between Trinidad and Tobago and agencies abroad was possible.

The Hadeeds deny the allegations

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, who represents the Hadeeds, has previously argued that the allegations were unsupported, telling the Court of Appeal on July 15:

"The State had provided no evidence to support the allegations. The only information before the court is the detention order itself and the particulars that the minister provided."

The investigation remains active, with authorities in Trinidad and Tobago and overseas continuing inquiries into the alleged plot while no charges have been filed against the Hadeeds.