By Prior Beharry
THE disconinuance of the bribery case against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former United National Congress (UNC) senator Gerald Ramdeen is a surprise to current Attorney General Reginald Armour.
His statement came on Monday after Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, said he could not proceed with the case since the main witness refused to testify.
Armour described it as “a stunning development and surprise.”
Moreso, he said, the discontinuance was predicated upon the State witness Vincent Nelson, KC, refusing to give evidence pending the determination of civil proceedings he brought in the High Court.
Armour said, “In those proceedings he is claiming, among other things, that the State should indemnify him for the fine of $2.25 million he was ordered by the High Court to pay when he pleaded guilty to charges brought against him for conspiring with Messrs Ramlogan and Ramdeen to pay bribes to Mr Ramlogan.
“The discontinuance is also surprising having regard to the fact that Nelson entered into a plea agreement with the DPP to give evidence against Ramlogan and Ramdeen in exchange for a recommendation by the Director to the High Court that Nelson be given a non-custodial sentence.”
He noted that Nelson has not recanted any admission of wrong doing he made in the criminal proceedings.
Armour said, “As Attorney General I wish to assure the people of this Country that I will consider every available avenue to protect the public’s interests, including (but not limited to) civil proceedings to recover any possible proceeds of the crimes allegedly committed by Messrs Ramlogan and Ramdeen and disciplinary proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee of the legal profession.
“Having obtained a fuller account of the Director’s decision to discontinue these criminal proceedings, I will be taking the advice of eminent local and foreign Senior and King’s Counsel to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of justice for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
