A REQUEST by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Wednesday to be recalled to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger in June 2015 was denied by Commissioner, Paul Slowe(ACP)ret’d.

The reason for Mr Slowe’s denial is unclear but Blanhum, in a letter to the Commission dated August 16, accused Assistant Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, of uttering false statements under oath at the Inquiry. As such, the Crime Chief requested an opportunity to set the record straight.

Ramnarine, who is also the acting Police Commissioner, testified twice before the Commission and on the first occasion, in his evidence –in- chief, said Blanhum was influenced by substantive Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud to grant bail to Andriff Gillard, the man who reported the alleged plot and Nizam Khan, the accused.

During his initial testimony on July 28, Ramnarine said he was informed by the Crime Chief at about 10:00hrs of the allegation made by Gillard. Gillard alleged that sometime in June 2015, Khan offered him $7M to kill President Granger. Ramnarine testified too that he was informed of a friendship which existed between the accused and the accuser.

“I said notwithstanding this appears to have its origin some one year and three quarter in June of 2015, this is a matter which concerns the head-of-state and you are to spare no effort to launch immediately a thorough investigation into the facts and circumstances and to keep me posted,” Ramnarine told the Paul Slowe-led Commission. As a result of the seriousness of the allegation, the acting Top Cop said he instructed Blanhum to conduct the investigation himself. Ramnarine testified too that on March 30, Blanhum called him at about 5:30hrs, as part of his usual reporting responsibility on the crime situation in the country.

It was during that reporting period Ramnarine said Blanhum was asked about the position of Khan who was arrested the day before. The Assistant top cop said Blanhum at no point prior to his questioning noted the alleged assassination plot. “He said the person would have to return today. I said return? How come? Wasn’t he in custody yesterday afternoon? And he said he was released. I was surprised at that. I asked him on whose instructions and he said his instructions, because he does not believe the story by Andriff Gillard.”

Appalling
However, in the Crime Chief’s missive, Ramnarine’s statements were described as appalling and he contends that he did not brief Ramnarine at the time as said by the acting police chief. “I wish to categorically state that this is a falsehood. I never gave instructions for bail to be granted to Nizam Khan, Imran Khan or Andriff Gillard.

Further, at no time did I brief Assistant Commissioner David Ramnarine on the status of the investigation at 5:30hrs on March 30, 2017 and I never told him I granted bail to Nizam Khan, because at 5:30hrs on the said date, I had no knowledge Nizam Khan was placed on station bail,” said Blanhum.

Moreover, he said he was only informed at around 8:30hrs that morning that Khan was placed on bail by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mitchell Caesar, during his morning meeting at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). “I wish to highlight the fact that I find Mr Ramnarine’s statement to be very appalling in light of the testimony of Inspector Narine, ASP Caesar and Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.

I would like therefore respectfully request that I be given an opportunity to be recalled to give sworn evidence before the Commission of Inquiry to address this issue,” Blanhum continued.

Salmon Letters
Meanwhile, attorney representing the interest of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, Glenn Hanoman, pleaded yet again with the Commission to consider the issuance of Salmon Letters to those public officials who were part of the inquiry and are likely to be subject to harsh criticisms when the report of the Commission is released. Hanoman stressed that Salmon Letters give the officials a chance to defend their integrity.

“I believe strongly and recommend that you should allow them to come and testify…and explain why an adverse finding should not be made against them. As I am seeing here, certain things would have come out when Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine gave evidence that affects Blanhum, who would have appeared before him… I think he is now crying for an opportunity to address any possibility of an adverse finding,” the lawyer submitted.

At the time of the request, Slowe, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, committed to reviewing the request made by Blanhum, as he received the missive during the course of the inquiry. “It is my intention to make sure that it is a very fair and impartial commission,” he assured.