– in alleged theft of lawbooks matter

A PRIMA facie case was on Friday made out against former Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, who is now expected to lead his defence in relation to the alleged larceny of over $2M worth of law books from the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore handed down her ruling after striking out a no-case submission made by defence attorneys Neil Boston, S.C, Glen Hanoman, and Devindra Kissoon.

Magistrate Azore noted that Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor, Patrice Henry has so far proved his case based upon the evidence.

Hanoman, during his address to the court, explained that his client will give a sworn testimony, while former President, Donald Ramotar is expected to be called as a defence witness in support of Nandlall’s case. The matter is adjourned until December 6, 2018.
The former AG is on trial for the alleged theft of the Lexis Nexis Law Reports of the Commonwealth that cost some $2M. The law reports are the property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the charge contends.

Over the past few years, Nandlall has repeatedly confirmed that while he was AG, the law books were purchased for him by the State with the approval of former President Ramotar.
Nandlall has said time and again that the law books are in his possession, and that he has no intention of returning them to the State.

He’d subsequently secured an order in the High Court, barring the police from seizing the books.

Nandlall had stated that the books were acquired during his term in office as Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs; that he’d begun subscribing to Lexis Nexis (U.K.), publishers of the Commonwealth Law Reports, sometime in 2003; and that the arrangement was that the reports were to be shipped to him along with an invoice.

He’d also made the point that before his appointment as Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, he’d requested that as a condition of his service, the State stand this expense and this was agreed.

The items were taken with him when his party demitted office in May 2015. This, he said, was communicated to the relevant authorities.