ONE of the joint conspiracy charges against former Supreme Court Registrar Sita Ramlall and Major General (ret’d) Norman McLean, was yesterday dismissed by Magistrate Fazil Azeez.
The charge had stated that between December 10, 2004, and March 18, 2009, with intent to defraud, they conspired with each other and persons or persons unknown to forge a certain judicial document, that is to say an adoption order, in respect of Arianne Anastacia Vidya McCall, purporting to show that the adoption order was issued on December 14, 2000, knowing same to be false.
In the ruling of the preliminary inquiry, the magistrate found that there was no evidence submitted to the court to show that there was conspiracy between the two accused for the unlawful act.
The magistrate also stated that there was no evidence to show any forgery of the document since no genuine document was presented to the court to show that the one in question was indeed forged.
The court also found that the charge in itself was defective and as such a prima facie case was not made out against the two accused.
When the magistrate completed his 35 minute ruling and discharged the case against the two accused, members of the public in the courtroom burst into applause.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Denise Griffith, who was prosecuting the case, informed the magistrate that she had only dealt with one of the matters, and that there are several charges against the accused.
The magistrate then told the prosecutor that he believes the evidence in the other charges will be the same, but the prosecutor can seek legal advice as whether to proceed with the other charges.
September 5, was set for report as to the other charges, and whether the prosecutor will proceed.