By Prior Beharry
OPPOSITION Senator David Nakhid is calling on Acting Police Commissioner Mc Donald Jacob to investigate Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and five of his ministers for perverting the course of justice.
Nakhid, along with Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally, who is an attorney, delivered a letter dated November 9, 2022, to Jacob at the Police Administration Building at the corner of Sackville and Edward Streets in Port of Spain on Wednesday.
Signed by Nakhid, the letter stated, “In light of my beliefs and oath to serve the people of our Republic, I hereby call upon you to take immediate steps to investigate whether Members of the Government (including but not exclusive to) the Prime Minister Dr Keith C Rowley, Attorney General Reginald Armour SC, former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Minister Stuart Young, Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Renuka Sagramsingh Sooklal, Minister Fitzgerald Hinds et al) have conspired to and or committed the crime of perverting the course of justice and/or misbehaviour in public office.”
The Senator wants them investigated for the role they allegedly played in the matter now dubbed Nelsongate where King’s Counsel Vincent Nelson refused to testify against former United National Congress (UNC) attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former senator Gerald Ramdeen.
The criminal bribery case against the two men was thrown out after Nelson refused to testify as the state’s main witness claiming that an indemnity agreement he signed with former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi had been breached. Nelson is now suing the state for more than $100 million for breach of the agreement.
In his letter, Nakhid cited a number of articles from the three daily newspapers – Express, Guardian and Newsday.
He said, “The Members of the Media have, respectfully, already done most of the work which would ordinarily fall upon the police service to do.
“What the media reports reliably reveal is that Members of the Government may have entered into a conspiracy with each other, and with other parties whose names are unknown to the public for the purpose of impeding, hindering, obstructing or defeating the due course of justice with intent to deny political opponents, former Attorney General Mr Anand Ramlogan SC and Mr Gerald Ramdeen Attorney at Law the equal protection of the law with intent to injure them pursuant to the said conspiracy and caused the institution, and continuation of criminal proceedings until it collapsed on 10th October 2022.”
Speaking outside police headquarters, Rambally said he and Nakhid met with Jacob and other police officers.
He said Jacob said he was “very happy” with the “submissions” of Nakhid’s letter.
Rambally said Jacob indicated that he was taking his lead from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He cited paragraph 20 in the letter, which stated: “We would recommend that should the Police Service require advice in relation to any matter or issue, such advice ought to be requested from the DPP in an expedited manner.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions would be largely aware of the facts and circumstances immediately surrounding the collapsed criminal proceedings involving Ramlogan and Ramdeen.
“As a matter of fact, the DPP had cause to issue a letter dated 16th December 2020 to inform former AG Al Rawi that in relation to the unlawful Indemnity Agreement, it would be improper for his Office to associate with same.
“It may be prudent to consult the DPP so as to review whether there were any breaches of the Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Act particularly whether any improper inducements were made by Mr Al Rawi et al.”
Rambally said he reinforced with Jacob to take the necessary steps to preserve the devices or documents that would support the charges.
He said, “So tablets, laptops, ipads what have you. All data needs to be retrieved from the relevant persons.”
