Ramlogan: I'll be acting for clients as normal by tomorrow

IT will be business as usual for former attorney general Anand Ramlogan who has been jointly charged with UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen in connection with an alleged conspiracy to financially reward themselves with fees from legal briefs from the State.

Minutes after Ramlogan and Ramdeen appeared before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle in the Port of Spain Magistrates Court, a smiling Ramlogan told the media he intends to live his life as normal and will be returning to his private practice, representing his clients, by tomorrow as he awaits his day in court.

“At the end the day truth will emerge,” he said of the case against him.

Ramdeen did not speak to the media as he and his legal team left the courthouse through another entrance.

Both men are charged with conspiring with Jamaica-born Queen’s Counsel to misbehave in public office, conspiring to engage in money laundering and conspiring to bribe on various dates between October 1, 2010 to September 9, 2015.

Neither of them was called upon to plead to the charges which were laid indictably.

Ramlogan’s attorney, Pamela Elder,SC, asked for disclosure, as well as a quick start of the case in light of information that Nelson was ailing.

She said her team hoped he get the best medical care and does not “enter the hearafter” before they got an opportunity to cross examine him.

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard,SC, who appeared for the prosecution earlier assured that the will comply with the necessary disclosure and he too said the State wished to proceed with the case as quickly as possible. Nelson last Thursday appeared in court on three similar charges and has agreed to a plea deal with the prosecution in exchange for his testimony against Ramlogan and Ramdeen.

Ramlogan and Ramdeen are to reappear in court on June 28.

Ramlogan was arrested last Wednesday at Piarco International Airport where he was to board a flight while Ramdeen surrendered to police later that day. During interrogation between Thursday and Friday last, both men complained of feeling unwell and were taken to hospital for treatment.

On Friday at 10 pm, they were formally charged at the ACIB office in Port of Spain in the presence of their attorneys, Pamela Elder, SC, for Ramlogan and Mario Merrit for Ramdeen, and were released from police custody on a total of $2.7 million bail.

Ramlogan received $1.2 million bail while Ramdeen received $1.5 million, both signed by a Justice of the Peace at the ACIB office.