By Prior Beharry
ATTORNEY General Reginald Armour, SC, receives the interim report on the case of the disappearing file on Friday.
The report was delivered to him by the two-member team appointed to investigate the matter. They are retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John and retired assistant commissioner of police Pamela Schullera-Hinds.
A release from the AG’s office stated that Armour thanked the investigative team and looked forward to the expeditious delivery of the full and final report.
Retired Caribbean Court of Justice judge Rolston Nelson was also appointed to help with legal advice to the team.
The team was appointed after a High Court judgement in which nine men convicted of the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman were each awarded $2.1 million payout from the State after filing a civil claim in which the State entered no defence. The State has signalled its intension to appeal.
The release stated that the investigative team was appointed by the AG to investigate and make recommendations with respect to procedural and systemic improvements in the Civil Law Department of the Office of Attorney General, and Ministry of Legal Affairs, including investigating and making recommendations with respect to the disappearance and re-appearance of the file in CV 2020-01243 Shervon Peters & Ors v The Attorney General.
The first three terms of reference include:
- To inquire into the facts and circumstances relating to CV2020-001243 Shervon Peters and ors v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago commencing from June 22, 2020 when service of the claim form and statement of case were effected, including the decision of the High Court dated January 30, 2023 and, and culminating in the hand- over of the file in CV2020-001243 to the Acting Solicitor General on the 6th February, 2023.
- To inquire into and establish the facts and circumstances regarding the role or roles played by any Minister, member of the Civil Law Department or any other person employed at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs in the management and conduct of CV2020-001243.
- To inquire into and establish whether there was any dereliction of duty, violation of any law, conflict of interest and/or breach of trust on the part of any Minister, member of the Civil Law Department or any other person employed at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs in the management and conduct of CV2020- 01243.
