PPP leaders experienced enough to handle my court matters

PPP leaders experienced enough to handle my court matters – Ali

Jan 22, 2019 News

It appears as if neither the general leadership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nor Irfaan Ali, himself, is worried about the criminal charges that he has hanging over his head.
On Saturday last, Ali was chosen as PPP Presidential Candidate to contest looming General and Regional Elections. This is despite the fact that the politician is being described as “embattled” as a result of damning questions relating to his qualifications, as well as a criminal court case that he has hanging over his head.
Ali is facing 19 fraud charges. If convicted, he would be constitutionally disqualified from vying for the presidency in the upcoming General and Regional Elections. In fact, the politician would be barred from ever running for president in his lifetime.
Prime ministerial candidate would also be a no for him, as the Constitution states that anyone who does not qualify to be President cannot be Prime Minister either.
In fact, even if elections are not called soon, the supreme law will force him to give up the seat that he currently holds as a Member of Parliament once he is convicted.
But, when asked about his concern about the court case and the effects of the outcome of the matter on his presidential candidacy, Ali said that his party’s leaders “got things under control”. This was on Saturday just after he was elected.
Ali told the media, “The other issue regarding the court, listen I don’t want to cross that bridge now. When we get to that bridge, I will cross it. But I think the PPP has the experience in its leade

PPP’s Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali

rship that will deal with all of these matters, the whole issue of the court and what comes out at the court, is a bridge we will cross when we get there.”
A few days ago, High Court Judge Franklin Holder granted a stay of criminal proceedings against Ali.
Ali had moved to the High Court in relation to the fraud charges he is facing in a Magistrate’s Court for the controversial Pradoville Two scheme.
As Housing Minister, Ali allegedly played a key role in selling plots of lands at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, to his colleague ministers and other top officials, shortly before Bharrat Jagdeo ended his second term. Jagdeo himself benefitted from lands, on which he built a large mansion.

Last November, Ali was arrested and slapped with 19 charges by the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
Ali was supposed to appear in the Magistrate’s Court again as those matters continue.
The former Minister had however moved to the High Court for an order quashing the decision of the DPP to charge him with the offence of ‘conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law’, on the basis that it was irrational, biased, and influenced by improper considerations and motives.
He also asked the Court for an order quashing the information of oath, of Munilall Persaud, Corporal of Police of the Special Organised Crime Unit, on the 19 charges.
In an attempt to bar the application, State Counsel Leslyn Noble had argued that Ali‘s request in the High Court was premature, given that matter was not completed in the Magistrate’s Court.
However, Justice Holder granted “an interim order restraining the Chief Magistrate or any other Magistrate within the Georgetown Magisterial District from hearing or attempting to hear or determine or taking any further steps in respect of the matter, until the case is completed in the High Court”.

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