QC appears in court on corruption charge

JAMAICA-born Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson appeared before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle earlier today where he was granted his own bail in the sum of $100,000 to cover three charges of corruption conspiracy in connection with a series of financial transactions involving legal fees during the period of the UNC-led People's Partnership Government’s term in office.

Nelson, who appeared for the State in a number of cases during the PP’s administration, is alleged to have conspired with former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and attorney Gerald Ramdeen.

The three charges, which were read out to him by the chief magistrate, alleges that he conspired with Ramlogan and Ramdeen to receive, conceal and transfer criminal property, namely rewards, given to Ramlogan by Nelson as the advocate in various matters for the State.

It is also alleged that he conspired with Ramlogan and Ramdeen for the former to misbehave in public office with Ramlogan accepting rewards from Nelson and conspired to corruptly give Ramlogan rewards as AG.

The charges were read to him as he stood somberly in the prisoners’ dock in the Eight magistrates’ court.

He was brought to the St Vincent Street courthouse just before 11 am, by officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigative Bureau (ACIB) who drove into the basement of the magistrates’ court on Duke Street, instead of the prisoners’ entrance to the front of the building.

As the three charges were indictable charges, Nelson could not enter a plea and Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard told the chief magistrate although in the normal course of things, committal proceedings usually follow the laying of such charge, he was invoking the recently-proclaimed Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Act to have the matter transferred to the High Court for a plea agreement trial as he intends to plead guilty.

Gaspard said all the requirements of the Act have been fulfilled. The matter will be transferred to the High Court in 14 days, in keeping with provisions of the Act and Nelson’s attorney Tom Allen, QC, in seeking bail for his client, said it was part of the agreement with the prosecution that he be granted his own bail and no restrictions placed on him to leave TT.

Allen submitted that Nelson, since October 2017, has been fully cooperating with the prosecution at an “unprecedented level” and has given several witness statements knowing fully well he has incriminated himself, despite risks to himself.

Allen said Nelson was the key prosecution witness and was “safer out of this jurisdiction.”

“There is a serious risk to him remaining in this jurisdiction. He would be safer abroad,” Allen said, also adding that Nelson also needed access to his doctors to treat with his health concerns.

Nelson was also represented by attorney Keith Scotland.

Ramlogan and Ramdeen were arrested by police on Wednesday and are still in police custody. They were expected to be interviewed today.