DPP seeks High Court trial for ex-AG Ramlogan, ex-senator Ramdeen

FORMER attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen will not have a preliminary inquiry in the magistrates’ court on the corruption kickback allegations against them, as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) intends to bypass the lower courts and have the case proceed directly to the High Court.

Both men appeared virtually before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle Caddle on Monday, when prosecutor Mauricia Joseph-Patrick said the matter will proceed straight to indictment.

Joseph-Patrick also said 21 sworn statements have been filed and two are still outstanding. One of those outstanding statements is from the police officer who charged both men in 2019. She asked for the matter to be adjourned to February to give the Office of the DPP some time to file relevant documents in the high court.

Ramdeen’s attorney Wayne Sturge, also a former UNC senator, said he had concerns relating to disclosure which has not yet been provided to the defence, but said he will deal with that out of court.

Both men are to return before the chief magistrate on February 25.

Ramlogan and Ramdeen are accused of conspiring with Jamaican-born Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson for Ramlogan to misbehave in public office as AG, by accepting money from Nelson as reward for granting him state briefs.

It is further alleged that they conspired for Ramdeen to receive, conceal, and transfer criminal property which represented corrupt rewards given to Ramlogan by Nelson for the state briefs.

The third allegation against the two is that they conspired for Nelson to give ten per cent of the paid legal fees to Ramlogan as a “gift” or “reward” for being granted state briefs.

They were charged in May 2019.

In March this year, Nelson, who pleaded guilty in June 2019 to his part in the alleged kickback scheme, was ordered to pay $2.25 million restitution as part of a plea bargain arrangement struck between him and the State. As part of the plea deal, he agreed to turn state witness and testify against Ramlogan and Ramdeen.

Also on Monday, Ramlogan appeared virtually before the chief magistrate on the witness-tampering charge. His attorney, Pamela Elder, SC, said in preparing for the matter, she realised an item of disclosure relating to communications data obtained under the Interception of Communications Act had not been provided.

She said it was necessary for the defence’s evidential objections response. She said she spoke to the DPP and was assured he would try to get the information, but it would take time. Joseph admitted she was unable to disclose the information at Monday’s hearing but said she would do so when the DPP’s office receives it.

She also admitted getting no instructions from DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, on the matter's being heard virtually.

Ramlogan will also return to court on February 25.

In the witness-tampering case, Ramlogan is accused of misbehaviour in public office and obstruction of justice. He was charged in 2017.

The charge against him surrounds an allegation by Police Complaints Authority director David West that Ramlogan approached him to withdraw his witness statement in a defamation case against then opposition leader Dr Rowley in 2014.

At a previous hearing, Ramlogan’s attorneys said they intended to question West, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, who were all expected to give statements.

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