Prosecutor threatens to seek arrest warrant for Nandlall

Jun 07, 2019 News

Yet another occasion has passed and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has failed to appear in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Nandlall is on trial for the alleged theft of Law Reports from the State.

Anil Nandlall

Yesterday when the matter was called, neither Nandlall nor his attorney, Glen Hanoman, was present in court. Nandlall’s name was then called outside the courtroom, however no appearance was made.
Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry who is representing the State in the matter then asked for a notice to be sent to the defendant (Nandlall) to attend court.
He also stated that if on the next occasion Nandlall does not appear before the court, he will ask that an arrest warrant be issued so that the defendant would be present in court so the matter could move forward.
The magistrate then upheld the submission made by the prosecutor and instructed that a notice should be sent to Nandlall. The matter was then adjourned until June 28.
It is alleged that Nandlall, between May 18 and May 29, 2015, in the then capacity of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit.
Nandlall has pleaded not guilty to the allegation and is out on self-bail, pending the outcome and determination of the trial.
Late last year, Magistrate Azore ruled that Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor, Patrice Henry, was able to prove every element of the offence. In the circumstances, Nandlall was called upon to lead a defence.
His lawyers approached the High Court for a stay to be granted in the matter, but Chief Justice Roxane George, dismissed the appeal against a no-case submission that was overruled by Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the trial.
The no-case submission was presented by Nandlall’s lawyer after the close of the prosecution’s case. The Court of Appeal then granted an interim stay in the trial of the former Attorney General.
Nandlall was previously reported as saying that when he took up the post of Attorney General, he did so at a loss, and it was for that reason he agitated for the State to pay for the Law Reports.
He had said that the arrangement received the blessings of then Head of State Donald Ramotar. However, investigators are contending that because the books were bought with State funds, they cannot be the property of Nandlall, and in fact, the State should not have entered into such an arrangement in the first place.
The Ministry of Legal Affairs is contending that there is no evidence of an agreement between Nandlall and Ramotar, and even assuming that there was such an agreement, the use of public funds in this manner is a flagrant violation of the Financial Management and Accountability Act.
Nandlall was charged after SOCU, an arm of the Guyana Police Force, completed investigations.

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