Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall was today (April 24, 2017) questioned by the Special Organized Crime Unit at its Camp Street Headquarters in relation to the alleged theft of Law books, however, Nandlall is claiming harassment.
According to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) has no mandate to investigate former Attorney General and Opposition MP Anil Nandlall in connection with the alleged theft of Law Books.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Nandlall contended that he did not commit any financial crime. He deemed the SOCU’s questioning as another attempt to muzzle PPP MPs. “Significantly when the Auditor General was doing this Special audit I wrote to the Auditor General because he requested from me and I outlined the transaction and President Donald Ramotar wrote the Auditor General as well and confirmed this arrangement under which I acquired these books and it been downhill since,” Nandlall said.
He is also maintaining that the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams has issues with him because he consistently exposes his inadequacy and inability to comprehend the law. The Former AG is not ruling out legal action against the unit.
Nandlall said Williams is aware that he had a contract with the former Government which was paying for his subscription for Law Books he was using at that time, which amounted to just over a million dollars.
This, the PPP MP noted was discussed with the AG at a meeting, while he was demitting office almost two years ago.
He was supported by fellow MP, Priya Manickchand, who claimed that the Government is using legitimate arms of the state to muzzle its political opponents. “What happened today is a disgraceful and shameful attempt to muzzle the PPP/C’s shadow minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General and it’s not going to work as you see we are not muzzled…every time Mr. Nandlall raises something truthful but shameful about the Attorney General we are in the position of hearing about scandal,” she contended.
Meantime, Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo told the media that his party stands fully behind Nandlall, pointing out that the SOCU is merely a unit that was designed to go after PPP members and not money launderers as the Government is proclaiming.
He noted that ” these law books from what I gather now could be purchased for 400,000 GYDs, 2,000 US and that becomes the big act of corruption that this Government is pursuing when they have claims that PPP members stole over 305 Billion dollars but they are pursuing a criminal act of 2,000 dollars US.”
Jagdeo said the PPP will not roll over and succumb to the pressuring by the Government.
