Gang Leader’s Legal Challenge Over Relocation Denied Amid State of Emergency

An alleged gang leader has faced a setback in his legal battle regarding his relocation from the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) in Arouca. The legal challenge was dismissed by Justice Frank Seepersad, who ruled against the habeas corpus writ filed by the man’s attorneys during a hearing last night. This decision comes as law enforcement ramps up its efforts to address security concerns that led to a State of Emergency (SoE) declared early Friday morning.

The gang leader, along with several other alleged members, is awaiting trial for a prominent murder case. His lawyers, Keron Ramkhalawan and Roshan Tota-Maharaj, contested the legal notices that designated the T&T Regiment’s Teteron Barracks and the T&T Coast Guard’s Staubles Bay headquarters in Chaguaramas as temporary prison facilities. These notices were officially announced following President Christine Kangaloo’s SoE declaration.

The attorneys argued that their client had been denied access to legal counsel since his relocation, but Justice Seepersad upheld the state’s position, emphasizing that individual rights must be balanced against the broader rights of society, especially under urgent national security circumstances.