McLean, Ramlal charged with forgery, conspiracy

Apr 28, 2009 News

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Registrar of the Supreme Court, Evelyn Sita Ramlal, and former Major General of the Guyana Defence Force, Norman Mc Lean, were yesterday slapped with a number of indictable counts of conspiring to commit a felony.

Both Ramlal and Mc Lean were not required to plead to the indictable charges, which were read to them by Acting Chief Magistrate, Melissa Robertson, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
When the defendants were told that they needed to stand in the prisoner’s dock, they were shocked.
It was alleged that Norman Mc Lean on February 17, 2005, with intent to defraud, delivered to Dawn Britton, a forged Process of Court of Justice (an adoption order) in respect of Ananne Anastacia Mc Call, dated December 14, 2004, knowing same to be forged.
It was further alleged that Mc Lean on February 17, 2005 with the intent to defraud, delivered to Leota Landford, a forged adoption order in respect of Ananne Anastacia Mc Call, which is dated December 14, 2004.

Both Mc Lean and Ramlal were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. It was alleged that the two defendants between December 10, 2004 and March 18, 2009 with the intent to defraud conspired with each other to forge a judicial document in respect to Ananne Anastacia Mc Call purporting to show that the said adoption order was done on December 14, 2000.
It was further alleged that the same defendants between December 10, 2004 and March 18, 2009 with the intent to defraud, conspired with each other to forge a judicial document in respect to Ananne Anastacia Mc Call, purporting to show that the said adoption order was caused on December 10, 2001 knowing same to be false.
A third charge states that both Ramlal and Mc Lean between June 18, 2004 and March 18, 2009, conspired with each other and forged a Judicial Order that is to say an “Ad Litum” order in respect to the adoption of Ananne Anastacia Mc Call, purporting to show that the order was dated August 10, 2000 when it was dated August 14, 2000 knowing same to be false.

Another charge alleged that the two defendants between June 1, 2004 and March 2009 with the intent to defraud they conspired with each other to forge a Judicial Order that is to say an Affidavit in support of a Summons of Statement by Lynette Mc Lean, a Consent Parent Form, an Application for Adoption in relation to Ananne Anastacia Mc Call, an Authority of Attendance of Report Form from the adoption Board, a Consent of Parent or Guardian Form in the matter of the adoption of the said child.

Attorney at law Nigel Hughes in association with attorneys at law Keith Messiah, Rex McKay, Joseph Harmon, Roger Yearwood, Ronald Bruch-Smith and Mark Waldron represented Ramlal and Mc Lean.
According to attorney at law Nigel Hughes, Norman Mc Lean, 74, of 77 Forshaw Street and Sita Ramlal, 58, of Lot 2 Bel Air, have made valid contributions to Guyana.
Hughes traced Mc Lean’s movement from his days as a cadet officer in the Guyana Police Force and excelled and got favourable declarations. He said that Mc Lean rose through the different ranks of the Guyana Defence Force.

Hughes stated that Mc Lean once headed the National Service Programme and served as both Chief of Staff and Major General of the Guyana Defence Force.
He said that after Mc Lean retired he moved into the private sector to head OMAI.
According to the lawyer, “the root of the charge is curious. The police did not charge the architect of the crime”. He said that Mc Lean has an unblemished record, posed no flight risk and would not interfere with the investigation.

Hughes stated that Ramlal is the Registrar of the Supreme Court and someone who has given impeccable service to the state.
He said that the mere fact that the Guyana Police Force did not even contemplate the issue of bail shows that she is no flight risk.
The lawyer further added that Ramlal would not interfere with investigations and asked that both Ramlal and Mc Lean be placed on self-bail.

Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith stated that the prosecution was not opposing bail, but asked that both defendants’ passports be lodged at the station, since Mc Lean is a citizen of the United States.
However attorney at law Nigel Hughes interjected and told the court that the police never asked for their passports. He explained that both defendants have complied with the police.
The lawyer added that Mc Lean is businessman who has to attend meetings in the United States.
Hughes further stated that in Ramlal’s case she has to seek medical attention, something that became necessary after she was in a coma for 19 days.

The lawyer further informed the court that she should still be visiting the US to get follow-up treatment.
“Your worship, it would be inhumane, if she is to lodge her passport and then in the middle of the night she suffers another attack. She would then have to seek a judge’s order to have her passport released.”
He argued that instead of them lodging their passports, they can report to any police station of the police’s choice.

The magistrate did not grant the prosecution’s application and proceeded to grant bail.
Mc Lean was placed on $ 85,000 bail on each of six charges for a total of $510,000, while Ramlal was placed on $85,000 bail on each of the four for a total of $340,000.
They were also ordered to return to court on June 5, next
Immediately attorney at law Nigel Hughes interjected and told the court that the prosecution should have been able to commence the trial.

Hughes contended that the prosecution was merely doing that to keep Ramlal off of her job as Registrar.
Supporters of Sita Ramlal had to be removed from the court steps to allow the officers to escort her to the holding area below the court.
In the courtyard former employees who had filed an injunction seeking to challenge an order secured by the Registrar were most abusive, hurling remarks at the woman.

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