A Trinidad and Tobago court has ordered Jamaican-born Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson to pay TT$2.25 million in fines for the role he played an alleged conspiracy with former TT attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen.
He was sentenced by Justice Malcolm Holdip on Monday.
The judge agreed to a non-custodial sentence but warned potential fraudsters that they should not feel emboldened by this case that they can carry out fraud and quickly pay restitution.
Nelson was also put on a bond of $250,000 for two years. He has been given time to pay the fines and in default he will spend time in prison.
On June 6, 2019, Nelson pleaded guilty to the three counts against him – conspiring to commit money laundering, misbehaviour in public office and conspiracy to commit an act of corruption.
Justice Holdip accepted Nelson’s plea agreement with the State after which he was allowed to enter his guilty plea.In keeping with the plea agreement, the misbehaviour charge was discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The matter is in connection with a series of financial transactions and alleged rewards involving legal fees paid to Nelson for representation in state briefs allegedly obtained when Ramlogan was attorney general.
Nelson lives in the UK and is in remission for prostate cancer. He will be allowed to leave TT and return to give evidence in the case against Ramlogan and attorney Gerald Ramdeen.
He is represented by British QC Tom Allen and local attorney Roger Kawalsingh.
Also appearing for the State are Queen’s Counsel Edward Jenkins and senior prosecutor Mauricia Joseph.
