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Senior Reporter
Murder accused Rajaee Ali was among 15 men whom the State yesterday issued detention orders for under the State of Emergency (SoE). The orders were gazetted yesterday.
According to the order against him, which was signed by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, Ali is alleged to have conspired with the GR8 Gang Alliance to “imminently carry out targeted killings of law enforcement officers and other public officials in public spaces using high-powered rifles.”
The order added that Ali was able to “traffic in prohibited articles within the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) and communicate and engage in gang activity,” despite his incarceration at both the prison and the Defence Force bases in Chaguaramas.
Ali was one of five inmates moved from the MSP in Arouca to Chaguaramas at the start of the SoE on July 18 by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro. At the time, it was said that Ali had been able to communicate with his affiliates from inside the prison.
The order said Ali remains an “immediate threat to public safety and his further detention is necessary as he has shown that he has the means and resources to continue to engage in gang activity despite his present incarceration and is a threat to the safety of the public.”
A detention order was also issued for Ali’s brother Hamid, who is also in prison.
The order said Hamid is a member of the Radical Islamic Criminal Gang and like Rajaee, is alleged to have conspired with the GR8 Gang Alliance to “imminently carry out targeted killings of law enforcement officers and other public officials in public spaces and to traffic in prohibited articles within the Maximum Security Prison.”
Hamid, the order said, has also been able to communicate and engage in gang activity despite his incarceration at the MSP and Teteron and “is an immediate threat to public safety.”
“There is a real risk and clear and present danger to members of the public and to public officials, including members of the protective services, that can become a reality unless he is preventively detained,” the order said.
An order was also issued for Burey Osbourne “Willy” Ghany, who is said to be a gang member involved in firearms concealment and lookout duties.
“He has demonstrated immediate capacity for armed violence and is an active participant in a plot to initiate a gang war involving reprisal shootings and assaults of rival gangs in public spaces using high-powered rifles,” the order states.
Ghany is the brother of Suevie Ghany, 29, who along with her teenage nephew Aaron Ramdhanie, were killed by a licensed gun owner during an early morning robbery in Santa Cruz earlier this month.
The orders, which were dated between August 11 and 20, also included the revocation of three previous detention orders issued for Errol Junior Duprey, Kelun “Baba” Alexander and Keron Anthony Woods – all of whom are currently incarcerated. No reason was given for the revocation of the orders.
However, an order was reissued for Duprey, who is allegedly the leader of a gang aligned to the Richplain Muslim gang, in the latest batch.
“Reliable information reveals that under his command, this gang is currently engaged in trafficking of firearms, sale of narcotics, arson, extortion and targeted killings. There is credible evidence that the detainee is actively planning future killings in public places using high-powered rifles. The detainee has a history of firearm- related offences and pending matters before the courts,” the order said.
Kelun Alexander is a gang member operating in Bagatelle and Diego Martin and has conspired with other criminal associates to carry out violent armed robberies in the Central Division in the near future, the order said.
The detention order against him claimed he engaged in recent robberies using high-powered firearms and was arrested at the scene of a robbery, was named as a participant in others and was arrested for several other violent criminal offences.
“The robberies in June and July, 2025, illustrate a growing confidence of the relevant persons as they are choosing riskier targets. The detainee poses a real and immediate threat to the public,” the order said.
Woods, the detention order claimed, is an enforcer operating in Bagatelle and Diego Martin who provides armed support during robberies.
“He has also been credibly identified as one of the persons engaged in planning a series of future armed and violent robberies together with criminal associates. He was arrested after a recent robbery, named as a participant in another and has previous criminal antecedents in violent robberies. The detainee poses a real and immediate threat to the public.”
While some of the men are currently in prison, defence attorney Fareed Ali yesterday explained that authorities can now, without probable cause, interrogate the prisoners under the orders.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Fareed Ali said the detention orders give police additional powers which prevent them from having to show some measure of proof that the questioning of a prisoner or detainee is evidence-backed.
However, Rajaee Ali’s attorney, Keron Ramkhalwhan, said the detention order is essentially pointless, as it does not take away any rights he currently enjoys. He added that the detention can’t be challenged in a court of law but can be taken before the SoE tribunal with the outcome subjected to veto by the Homeland Security Minister.
Ramkhalwhan said while the detention can’t be challenged, the constitutionality of the law that allows for a prisoner to be detained under the SoE can be challenged, which is what he has been arguing.
Rajaee Ali’s detention order came hours after Ramkhalwhan and Anwar Hosein sought the court’s intervention in an emergency hearing to allow Rajaee access to airing time, clean clothes, halal meals, flushing toilets, family visits, personal grooming products, books and insect repellent.
During yesterday’s hearing in that matter, former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, who is representing the State, denied Rajaee was in a cell with a tuberculosis patient, adding he was the sole occupant of the cell. The court was also informed that Ali’s wife was allowed, from yesterday, to drop clothing off for him twice weekly.
The matter was heard by Justice Westmin James, who subsequently adjourned the matter to September 5 and transferred it to Justice Marissa Robertson, who is currently hearing the substantive constitutional matter. James also allowed the Commissioner of Prisons to join as an interested party in the case, if so desired.
English (US) ·