A 32-year-old mother of two from Chaguanas, who admitted to inciting violence towards Government members in a series of social media posts, has been placed on a three-year bond.
Alianna Samaroo pleaded guilty during her first court appearance before Senior Magistrate Marissa Gomez on December 3 but was only sentenced yesterday.
Samaroo, who was represented by attorneys Shiva Boodoo, and Roshni Balkaran-Boodoo, was placed on a $20,000 bond to keep the peace and be on good behaviour for three years.
Under the terms of the bond, no conviction for the offence she pleaded guilty to will be recorded if she does not breach it during the period.
In the event that she commits another criminal offence during the period, she will be returned to the court to be re-sentenced for the crime.
During the hearing, Samaroo read a pre-prepared statement apologising for her conduct.
“I admit that what I said was wrong. I did not think about how serious those words were before I spoke,” she said.
She also claimed that she never meant to threaten anyone or cause harm.
“I was not thinking clearly, and I now realise that my words could have frightened people and caused serious concern. I take full responsibility for what I said,” she said, as she also apologised directly to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Government.
Stating that she does not support any form of violence, Samaroo said: “This experience has taught me a hard lesson about being careful with my words, especially online. I am willing to learn, to change, and to follow any rules or guidance the court gives me so that I never make this mistake again.”
In late November, Samaroo, who is currently unemployed and goes by the online handle of Pretty Alianna, reportedly posted several videos on her social media account, allegedly inviting violence on Persad-Bissessar and members of her Government by Venezuela.
Samaroo, who has two sons aged seven and 11, was arrested at her apartment at Phyllis Lane, Chaguanas.
After being held in custody for two days, a senior police officer approved her extended detention without charge for five additional days.
When her detention came to an end, Samaroo was charged with breaching the Emergency Powers Regulations for the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE).
The regulation makes it an offence to endeavour, orally or otherwise, to influence public opinion in a manner likely to be prejudicial to public safety.
The maximum penalty for breaching the regulations is a $100,000 fine and five years’ imprisonment.
In an interview with Guardian Media after her arrest, Samaroo’s mother Elizabeth Vasquez-Rosales expressed hope that her daughter would be released and reunited with her family before Christmas.
Vasquez-Rosales made a plea for Persad-Bissessar to intervene in her daughter’s case, as she was under the impression her daughter was being held under a preventative detention order (PDO) under the regulations.
Under the regulations, the Homeland Security Minister is empowered to issue such orders against persons if he believes such would prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety.
The orders ensure that those subject to such would remain detained for the entire duration of the SoE without being charged with a criminal offence. Persons subject to such orders can mount challenges before a three-member review tribunal. While the tribunal may make recommendations on the lifting of such orders, the minister is not compelled to accept the tribunal’s advice.
Last month, Diego Martin resident Olive Green-Jack was slapped with a PDO after she made a post calling on the Venezuelan government to target Persad-Bissessar’s private residence in south Trinidad.
Although her husband issued a public apology on her behalf, the order is yet to be lifted and she remains under detention.
Around the time Samaroo was charged, a 48-year-old man was slapped with six charges for issuing death threats to Opposition Senator Dr Amery Browne via social media posts.
