June 7 2019
An arrest warrant will be issued for the former Attorney General Anil Nandlall if he fails to show up at a city court for the next hearing in the proceedings against him for the alleged fraudulent conversion of law reports.
The charge against Nandlall alleges that between May 8th, 2015 and May 29th, 2015, at Georgetown, being a bailee and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, having 14 law reports, valued at $2,313,853 and property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, he fraudulently took or converted the reports to his own use and benefit.
When the matter was called before magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday, the court orderly called for Nandlall thrice but no one appeared.
Subsequently, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor Patrice Henry requested an adjournment and asked that a notice be sent to Nandlall informing him of his next court date. He further stated that should Nandlall fail to show up on the next court date, a request will be made for an arrest warrant to be issued.
Magistrate Azore agreed with Henry, while noting then that a stay in proceedings, which was granted by the Court of Appeal, expired on March 20th, 2019. She noted that she “is not sure what is happening” with the matter. She adjourned the matter until June 28th, 2019, at 1.30 pm.
Nandlall was previously called upon to lead his defence regarding the matter in November 2018, after he was informed by Magistrate Azore that a prima facie case had been made out against him. Nandlall’s attorney, Neil Boston, who is leading the defence in association with Glenn Hanoman and others, had previously made no-case submissions.
Last December, lawyers for Nandlall moved to the High Court to have the charge thrown out, while also asking for a stay of the pending Magistrates’ Court proceedings until a decision is made.
However, Justice Dawn Gregory declined to grant an application for a stay in the proceedings against Nandlall in the Magistrates’ Court on the ground that a single judge in chambers does not have the jurisdiction to grant such a request.
Attorneys representing Nandlall later filed an application to the Court of Appeal in relation to the said matter. Nandlall was subsequently granted the stay of proceedings, which he presented to the magistrate in March.
