The Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s administration has expressed its ’profound apology’ to the people and government of Saudi Arabia for the search and questioning of one of their diplomats by local law enforcement on Monday.

The Sunday Express understands the apology was sent in writing by way of a diplomat note issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon had told the Express in an article published on Thursday that she had been told of ’some discontent’ being expressed by the government of Saudi Arabia, over the questioning of diplomat Dr Fawaz Abdul Rahaman Al Shabili by the police who searched his hotel room at the Hyatt Regency hotel, in Port of Spain.

An official apology was sent to the Saudi Arabian Government yesterday, four days after Deputy Police Commissioner Raymond Craig, who is in charge of the Special Branch and Crime Intelligence, expressed his apologies over the incident.

Craig had said on Tuesday the police were acting on information that raised concerns about a security risk that was proven to be unfounded and stressed that none of the officers who questioned Al Shabili searched his person.

’The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has conveyed an expression of profound apology in respect of the incident to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,’ the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a media release issued yesterday.

In its media release, the Ministry mentions the phrase ’profound apology’ twice with regard to its communication with the Saudi Arabian government over the issue.

Gopee-Scoon had explained last week that not all diplomats are afforded immunity from search by the police and as far as she was aware on Monday when she was interviewed on the matter, Al Shabili ’is not a diplomat who is afforded special rights or privileges under the Vienna Convention, which gives him immunity from search.’

The Ministry confirmed that ’Al Shabili was deployed by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to travel to Trinidad and Tobago for the express purpose of issuing Hajj visas for the 2009 season.’

Al Shabili had been staying at the Hyatt Regency hotel and was issuing visas to local Muslims who wished to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

’In this regard, the Ministry has conveyed an expression of profound apology in respect of the incident to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Muslims view the journey to the Holy City of Mecca to participate in Hajj as a lifelong desire. The facility which continues to be provided by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the people of Trinidad and Tobago is highly valued,’ the Ministry stated.

Normally, Muslims wishing to attend the Hajj have to travel to Venezuela to get a visa to visit Saudi Arabia, even though the Ministry stated yesterday that this country ’established formal diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on July 5, 1974.