Hadeeds' Next Bid for Release Set for Tuesday Appeal Hearing

Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed are making another attempt to secure their release, with the Court of Appeal set to hear an urgent procedural appeal on Tuesday. The appeal challenges the legality of their arrest and detention under the state of emergency regulations. The couple seeks to overturn a High Court judge's ruling that refused to order their release pending the hearing of their judicial review claim.

Justice of Appeal Peter Rajkumar set the hearing date and directed parties to file submissions. The Hadeeds are asking the Court of Appeal to reconsider their application for interim relief and order their immediate release. Alternatively, they are seeking to be detained at their Westmoorings home under police supervision until their substantive legal challenge is determined.

This appeal follows a previous bid to expedite their judicial review proceedings before a High Court judge, which was not immediately granted. That judge fixed a date for case management of the claim. Attorneys for the Hadeeds argued that Dominic Hadeed's health is deteriorating in prison due to lack of medical treatment, urging the court to treat the matter with urgency.

The Hadeeds were arrested on June 24 after police executed a search warrant at their home. They are being investigated for an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General John Jeremie, and other government members, as well as alleged offenses under the Emergency Powers Regulations. They were initially detained under Regulation 13 before preventive detention orders were issued under Regulation 14, leading to their transfer to correctional facilities without criminal charges being laid.