Caribbean

Trinidad (CMC):

The public auction of 10 properties belonging to Yasin Abu Bakr, the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen group involved in the failed coup here in 1990, ended here yesterday, with buyers purchasing all but one of the properties.

Heavily armed police officers were visible near the Port of Spain City Hall where the auction was held.

The newly elected People's Partnership government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar put the properties up for sale in a bid to recover an estimated TT$40 million (US$6.6 million) in losses the state suffered as a result of the attempted coup.

Bakr has criticised the move that follows the ruling made by the High Court last September in favour of the State.

Unlawful and illegal

"The auction is unlawful and illegal, this matter has been settled by the Privy Council already. It is madness. It is clearly an unlawful act," Bakr said.

But Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said "every single property owned by the Jamaat al Muslimeen is being put up for sale to compensate the State for the loss and damage suffered".

According to the auctioneer, nine of the 10 properties were sold for an estimated TT$5 million (US$833,300).

Ramlogan had indicated that the government was prepared to take over any building that was not sold.