No charges yet for Ramlogan, Ramdeen

Lawyers representing UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen itend to challenge his lengthy detention in the probe into a legal fee kickback conspiracy.
Newsday understands that lawyers representing the senator served a pre-action protocol letter threatening to file a habeas corpus application at 8 am this morning.

They are questioning his detention past the 48 hour period allowed for the holding of a suspect on inquiries without charges being laid and are prepared to file a writ of habeas corpus application in the High Court if he is not charged or released by midday today.
Police will then have to justify their continued detention of Ramdeen.

Charges are yet to be laid against him and former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.
The two were expected to be charged last night but Ramlogan's interview could not be completed after he complained of feeling unwell.

His interview was expected to have restarted this morning.
Once completed, police are expected to seek the DPP's advice on the laying of charges against the two who will be taken before a magistrate.

The two have been in police custody since Wednesday. Ramlogan was arrested at 4.15 am as he was about to board a flight to the BVI where he is involved in a civil case there while Ramdeen surrendered to police hours later at about 7 am. Their homes in south Trinidad and offices were also searched Wednesday night.

Ramdeen's interview, which began at 4.30 on Thursday afternoon was completed at 6.35 and police intended to approach the DPP at 10 pm for advice on the laying of charges.
On Thursday, an alleged co-conspirator in British QC Vincent Nelson appeared in court on three charges relating to an alleged conspiracy between the three of them to financially reward Ramlogan for cases in which Nelson represented the State.

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 which spans the period of the UNC-led People's Partnership Government’s term in office.

His lawyers, British QC Tom Allen and Keith Scotland, asked that no conditions be attached to the bail to allow Nelson the freedom to leave TT since, Allen said, he would be safer abroad.