The courtroom of Magistrate Fabayo Azore heard the testimony of two witnesses on Tuesday as the trial of former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall commenced at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Nandlall was arraigned on a charge instituted by members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which stated that between May 15 and May 29, 2015, while being a bailee (custodian), he fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, valued at $2.3 million — which he allegedly unlawfully retained after demitting office in 2015.
Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall (centre)
In court on Tuesday, Legal Affairs Ministry Accounts Clerk Daniel Persaud gave evidence, disclosing that the only law reports that he was aware of were those received by the Ministry after Nandlall had demitted office in 2015.
He told the court that he recollected receiving a phone call from the then Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Legal Affairs Ministry, Melissa Tucker, on June 2, 2015 after which he visited her office with the “Intermediate Use Book”. The court also heard that the PS had in her possession the law reports about which Persaud made entries into the book, recording the description, serial number, etc.
Persaud then related that he transported the said books to the Ministry’s library and handed over the books to the librarian, Lana Best, who signed for them
A former stores clerk at the Legal Affairs Ministry also appeared to give evidence. The court heard that she held the position for 15 years and has since retired.
