Anand's witness-tampering case yet to start

ATTORNEYS representing former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, intend to question Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi in his witness-tampering case.

Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, who leads Russell Warner and Alvin Pariagsingh for Ramlogan, said she wanted to cross-examine the three men, and would need a week to do so.

Elder put the prosecution on notice on Tuesday, when Ramlogan returned to the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, where he is before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle on charges of misbehaviour in public office and obstruction of justice.

He was charged in 2017. The allegation against him surrounds an allegation by West that he was approached by Ramlogan to withdraw his witness statement in a defamation case against then Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley in 2014.

Griffith, who was then the minister of national security, and Ramlogan, who was AG at the time, were fired from the Cabinet in 2015 after an investigation was started by police.

In April, Al-Rawi told the media the case was expected to begin that month, but it is yet to reach the trial stage.

Elder complained that it appeared the prosecution was not ready, as witness statements were still being filed and the State was yet to respond to the evidential objections of the defence. She said it was clear the prosecution was not ready to proceed, although the defence has complied with all the court’s orders.

Earle-Caddle reminded the prosecution that the case was no different from any other and urged prosecutors to adhere to the timelines set by the court. She allowed the State to file four further statements of Griffith, West and former Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip and gave the defence additional time to make further evidential objections to the new evidence.

The matter was adjourned to September 30 for a final case management hearing.

The State is represented by senior prosecutor Mauricia Joseph.