By David Graves. Daily
Telegraph. UK. Monday 27 November 2000
The leader of six British private investigators held in a Cuban jail for
seven weeks returned to Britain yesterday as the mystery deepened over what they
had been doing in the country.
Ken Lodge, 53, who flew into Gatwick with other members of his team,
admitted carrying out an undercover surveillance operation on the communist
island. But he refused to reveal who had recruited them, saying only that they
had been working for an American-based client, gathering "information"
using high-tech cameras and transmitters.
He said: "We were carrying out surveillance in sensitive areas using
sophisticated equipment. The whole job was a calculated risk. We are not
infallible. We have protected a president before and several ambassadors. We
knew there were dangers. I have no regrets, life is an experience."
Mr Lodge confirmed that one of their targets had been Mike Nahmad, a
Panamanian businessman with extensive links in Cuba. However, he denied that
they had been recruited by a London solicitor on behalf of Mr Nahmad's wife to
gain evidence for a divorce. She also denied the claim.
At the time of their arrest, a former member of the team said they were
hired to show that Mr Nahmad had fathered a child by his mistress in Havana. Mr
Lodge, who runs SIP Investigations in Snaresbrook, east London, apologised for
any embarrassment to Mrs Nahmad.
The investigators, and the girlfriend of one of them, were detained shortly
before they were due to leave Cuba on October 9 on suspicion of spying after the
security services became aware of their excessive use of mobile phones. They had
faced up to 20 years in jail until President Castro ordered their release on
Saturday after British diplomats convinced the authorities that the men were not
spying.
Mr Lodge said they had been "well treated" and had lived on rice,
beans and chicken in prison. To pass the time, Mr Lodge had read Sir Richard
Branson's autobiography three times.
Mr Lodge said: "When we heard we were being released we were jubilant.
We would like to thank our families and the Government for supporting us."
Three of the team were named as Mr Lodge's stepson, Jonathan Fawcett, 29, Derek
Pitt and Will Smart.
Lady Scotland, the Foreign Office minister, said: "The Cuban government
told the British ambassador that the resolution of this matter was a tribute to
the bilateral relationship, and to the serious and sensitive way the matter had
been handled by the British Embassy in Havana."
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2000. | 