Rio Claro resident Rayad Ryan Mohammed remained in custody last night, after being arrested on Saturday in connection with a threat against the family of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in a Facebook post last week.
During a brief interview yesterday, Supt Totaram Dookie, who arrested Mohammed on Saturday night, confirmed that he was still in police custody.
Saying the investigation was being pursued diligently, Dookie said, “We intend to finish it, soon after which on completion we will engage the Director of Public Prosecution.”
GML journalist Sharlene Rampersad, who broke the story of Mohammed’s apology following his controversial post, was also among several people who gave statements to Fraud Squad detectives yesterday as the probe continued.
Sources said yesterday it was highly unlikely that Mohammed will be charged under the Cybercrime Act.
“We expect that he will be charged with a common law or summary offence,” the source added.
Sources also said that Mohammed, 24, was fired from his job after he made the Facebook post which triggered outrage in some quarters last week.
However, following his arrest he apologised, saying he was hurt by the double murders of Hafeeza Rose Mohammed, 56, and Videsh Subar, 13, whose throats were slit following a robbery in Malabar. Mohammed worked with a contractor and has not yet received legal counsel.
During an interview yesterday, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said he did not condone people using social media to issue threats, lewd messages or obscene language.
“However, there are persons, because of the anger and pain they feel, resort to the Internet to vent. In the circumstances, given the state of the country, I think an apology from him should suffice. A good reprimand should be sufficient but I do not think he should be charged,” Moonilal said.
He also said Mohammed may have committed a summary offence.
ASP Ken Ghisyan is continuing investigations into the matter.
