–exposes Opposition for abusing courts to settle personal scores

ATTORNEY-General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has said that his recent triumph in the libel lawsuit against his predecessor, former Attorney-General Basil Williams has exposed the Opposition for utilising the courts as a means to settle personal vendettas.

Recently, High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry upheld Nandlall’s claims of defamation, and awarded $10 million in damages, after he won his defamation case against Basil Williams for libellous statements made in relation to the alleged theft of law books.

During a broadcast interview on Sunday, Nandlall shed light on the lawsuit that resulted in his vindication.

He revealed the allegations levelled against him by Williams, accusing him of stealing law books, and expecting larceny charges, lacked any shred of evidence.

He pointed out that the charges brought against him by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in 2017 were based on a deficient case file.

The former A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government even commissioned a special audit, which ultimately exonerated Nandlall of any wrongdoing.
“There was no investigation done; I was charged, and then investigations followed,” Nandlall lamented, highlighting the lack of due process. “They charged me on an empty file, based upon simply political directions. It was a big thing for me. I am a lawyer; I have never been accused of any form of dishonesty in my life prior to that…”

Driven by principle, and the need to ensure justice prevails, Nandlall stressed the urgency of sending a resolute message that the judiciary should never be used to settle personal scores. He expressed hope that Williams, in exercising his right to appeal, would shed further light on the corruption and incompetence that plagued the previous government.

“I hope now that the ruling having been pronounced, it will bring closure to this matter. I had to retain lawyers; I spent a lot of time behind this matter. And for what? Simply because I was exposing the incompetence; the inefficiency, the corruption that was going on in the government of the day. Because of that, you’re going to use the State machinery as a weapon against me?”

He continued: “The Judiciary, the criminal justice system, must never be used as a weapon of vindictiveness in the political armoury of any government, or used to settle personal disputes. The justice system is to do justice between parties who have a genuine grievance. There was no genuine grievance here; and I wish that Basil Williams appeals the matter, because I believe, honestly, the judge should have granted more than $10 million.”

In April 2017, Nandlall had sued Williams over claims that he (Nandlall) had stolen a series of Commonwealth Law Books from the State while he occupied the office of Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

The case stems from a series of public statements made by Williams, who alleged that Nandlall had stolen government property, specifically law books, during his tenure.

Williams, who was appointed to office in 2015, repeatedly accused Nandlall of criminal acts, thereby tarnishing his reputation, and causing him significant harm.

During the trial, Nandlall provided evidence, including video recordings and newspaper articles, that clearly established Williams’ defamatory statements. The court found that Williams’ remarks were false, malicious, and had a detrimental impact on Nandlall’s personal and professional standing.

Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, in her judgement, noted that the defamatory statements made by Williams had only one natural and ordinary meaning: That Nandlall was dishonest, a thief, and unfit for public office.

Nandlall had explained to the court that the State purchased for him the law books, with the approval of former President Donald Ramotar. Nandlall had explained that the law books, which were acquired during his term in office, were in his possession, and that he had no intention of returning them to the State.

It was previously disclosed that he commenced subscribing to Lexis Nexis (U.K.), publishers of the Commonwealth Law Reports, sometime in 2003, and the arrangement was that the reports were to be shipped to him, along with an invoice.

He noted that before his appointment as Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, he had requested that, as a condition of his service, the State should stand the related expenses.

After the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) lost the May 2015 elections, Nandlall vacated his office and took the law books with him.

Thereafter, whenever Nandlall was publicly critical of Williams, the latter threatened to embarrass him by making the issue contentious, and publicly alleged at a press conference that Nandlall was implicated in some “Law Books scandal”. This caused Nandlall to issue a public statement, denying the allegation.

In his defence, Williams contended Nandlall misused public funds, and breached the Financial Management and Accounting Act 2003, the Financial Expenditure Procurement Process and Stores Laws and Regulations. He also relied on the defences of justification and fair comment.

However, the judge ruled that Williams “failed to produce one iota of evidence” to support this defence.

In 2017, Nandlall was charged with Larceny by Bailee in connection with the law books, which he dubbed a political and sinister motive from the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government.

However, in 2020, the charge was withdrawn, based on instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.