Following is a statement issued this afternoon by former Attorney General, Mohabir Anil Nandlall:
This morning, at or about 9 hours, Bibi Farida Prasad, of 589 Section C South Turkeyen Sophia, Greater Georgetown, Narine Khublall and Poonadai Khublall both of 588 Section C South Turkeyen Sophia, Greater Georgetown, appeared, as requested by the Police, before the Magistrate at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court to answer charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition without licences.
Yours truly along with Ms. Priya Manickchand, and Euclin Gomes, Attorneys- at- Law, were present to represent them. Unfortunately, the Prosecutor informed the Court that the charges have been wrongly prepared and he is withdrawing the charges and that new charges will be instituted within half of an hour.
We waited and about 40 minutes later, unfiled charges were delivered to the magistrate by a Police Officer. The learned Magistrate informed the court that the new charges are not yet filed and she will not permit same to be filed and read the same day to the Defendants.
The learned Magistrate informed us, the lawyers and our clients, that we are free to leave and that the Police will have to file the charges and summon the Defendants to court at some future date.
This matter is becoming stranger with every passing day. After an entire year without anyone informing these persons that they were ever suspected of possessing firearms and ammunition without licences, although they have been in regular contact with the Police, suddenly criminal charges are sprung against them for allegedly possessing firearms and ammunition without licences. And after an entire year, the Police still cannot get the charges right. At the same time there is great sloth in prosecuting the charges which have been laid against persons who stole and destroy these people property on May 11th, 2015. My clients’ only wrong is that they permitted their premises to be used by the PPP for the 2011 Elections.
It forces one to wonder who is behind these charges. Is it the Police? Is it the DPP? Or is there a political director in the shadows? It is difficult to believe that after one year the Police and moreso, the DPP will make such elementary errors with the charges. In my view this is nothing short of the law and the criminal justice process being used to politically victimize and harass my clients. It is only a matter of time before this farce is unmasked.
Isn’t that social cohesion, APNU STYLE.
Anil, you know full-well why the new government did not touch the DPP. She is one and the same with you, so you can´t claim political interference. as soon as she gets the directive she will call you. yuh tink de coalition stupit??
Well if it is the DPP, she should be fired immediately.