Search warrant read in open court alerts former AG Nandlall

Jun 28, 2017 News

-SOCU abandons planned search of his Bel Air home

Former AG, Anil Nandlall

A planned raid on the Bel Air Park home of former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has raised several alarming questions about leaks and procedures.
The police Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) from all indications, was all set to visit the home to retrieve 15 Commonwealth Law Books in Nandlall’s possession that the state is claiming.
The law books are subject of a criminal case that Nandlall is facing. He was arrested and charged earlier this year.
He is insisting that the books, paid for by the state when he was in office, were part of his entitlement as a minister.
SOCU officials yesterday reportedly went to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they applied to Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, for a search warrant.
In what was described as a highly unusual situation, the application was read in open court. The magistrate reportedly also asked the SOCU officials to return in the afternoon to uplift the warrant.
Legal minds and other officials were surprised that the application could have been read in open court as that itself would defy the surprise element that exists with a search warrant.
Shortly after that application was made, several media houses were alerted and they rushed down to the Bel Air Park home of Nandlall to await the SOCU raid. It never happened.
Several high-ranking officials of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), including former President Donald Ramotar; Neend Kumar, Juan Edghill, and Zulfikar Mustapha were among those that converged on the Lama Avenue property, in an apparent show of support for Nandlall.
There were also some men specially mobilised.
At the scene, Nandlall waved a court order which he insists is in force and which bars SOCU and the police from searching his property until the outcome of a pending case.
He said that the issue was never about being able to afford the law books.
”That is not my concern at all. In fact I offered SOCU to buy 15 brand new books, unused from the company and deliver it to them by DHL tomorrow if they want.”
He said that the issue is about his rights.

The Bel Air home of Anil Nandlall

“If you give into injustice an inch, they will come for 10 inches, then they will come for a yard. Everyone knows I can afford the books…it is about the principle.”
Nandlall believed that he is targeted because he is outspoken about drug purchases for the state and the rental of private properties for ministers.
He noted that the criminal case involving the law books is still ongoing with the seizure of the law books not likely to help the case much at this time.
“If we don’t stand up…you see how the dictatorship grows…you may be supportive of the government…that is not the issue here.”
Nandlall made it clear that with no respect for court orders, there will be breakdowns with no one safe anymore.
Nandlall said that after learning of the SOCU’s plan to acquire a warrant, he retrieved copies of the latest court documents which clearly indicated that the order against SOCU and the police are in force.
He said that he is not allowing anyone in.
“When they come here, they have to break this gate down and the world will have to see.”
At the Bel Air scene, ex-president Ramotar made it clear that Nandlall has a court order and any breaches would be trampling of the rights of the people.