Top Cop’s lawyer wants Police Legal Advisor to appear before Commission

Assassination CoI

…Ram continues to call for Ramjattan to give evidence

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Attorney Glen Hanoman, representing the interest of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President Granger, has formally requested CoI Commissioner Paul Slowe to have Police Legal Advisor Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d) appear to give evidence before the Commission.

Justice Singh has advised the Guyana Police Force at every juncture of the investigation into this alleged plot, reports of which first surfaced on March 29 last, when Andrif Gillard alleged that his neighbour, Nizam Khan, had offered him $7M to kill President Granger.
“I want to put on record a formal request for the Police Legal Advisor to be sought. And I know you (Commissioner Slowe) have already ruled, but just for the purpose of the record, I feel that she certainly played an important role throughout this investigation. And she came to some legal opinions that may be very helpful to the Commission, especially her opinion on the offence being investigated. So I think that she has something important,” Hanoman said.
“Even though you have mentioned that they will have their minutes and written pieces of advice, my understanding is that there may have been a lot of oral advice that have not been documented. I believe that Unit (the Major Crimes Unit) have a daily rapport with this particular adviser, and I was told that, almost on a daily basis, oral advice was sought on the way forward in this case, and I think those things should be highlighted,” Hanoman added.
“Noted!” Commissioner Slowe responded.
Meanwhile, Attorney Christopher Ram, who represents Imran Khan, continued fighting for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to be invited to give

evidence before the commission. Ram notes that “a collection of issues not only makes Ramjattan’s contribution compelling, but extremely valuable”.
He added that the Minister’s comments about the incident and inquiry warrants his presence, and he noted that if the Commission does not call Ramjattan, it would “seriously compromise its own work”.
While he acknowledged the request, Slowe said he would continue to be guided by the Terms of Reference of the CoI.
“I will be guided by these (ToRs) because these are the terms that I have to seek to get witnesses and evidence. So while I hear what you are saying, as I said before, I intend to be very open, impartial, and bring all those who are necessary for me to address these terms.
“As I said, a decision has not yet been made, and I will go through it and see the benefits he can bring in terms of us addressing the terms,” Slowe promised.
Minister Ramjattan had, on Thursday, said he does not see how his testimony would contribute to the work of the Commission.
The CoI seeks to do the following: Inquire into persons, places, times, circumstances and events by and through which allegations and reports came to be made of an intention to assassinate the President.
Investigate the full range of the actions and responses of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the reports, and determine the extent to which such actions were conducted or executed with due diligence.
Determine whether any person, and in particular officers of the GPF, had information before and after reports were made of a plan to assassinate the President; and whether any such officer(s) had communicated that information to a superior authority.
Commissioners will also record and report on what official action was taken on the basis of the information received; and whether there was due diligence by the officers of the GPF in the investigation of the plan to assassinate the President.
Determine whether there was failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate the plan to assassinate the President; and determine whether such failure or omission was intentional.
The Commissioners would also seek to determine the extent to which persons are culpable for the failure or neglect of officers or persons involved in the investigation to discharge their responsibilities; and recommend action to be taken against persons found to be blameworthy.
Moreover, the commissioners would recommend steps that can be taken to prevent recurrence of such an incident; and identify systemic issues, if any, in the GPF’s competence to investigate matters of this nature.
The report is due to be submitted to President Granger on August 18.