Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minster Anil Nandlall who appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, was instructed to lead his defence on December 6, 2018, by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, after she adjudged that the evidence provided by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) was enough for him to face the charge which alleges that he stole some 14 Commonwealth law books worth G$2.3 million.
SOCU’s Prosecutor, Patrice Henry presented on behalf of the State, meanwhile defence Attorney Glenn Hanoman informed the court that it is expected to have former President Donald Ramotar as a witness into the matter.
The former Attorney General was on April 27, 2017, released on self-bail after he was charged for fraudulently acquiring and converting Commonwealth law books to his own use and benefits, property of the State.
On April 24 2017, Nandlall was called in to SOCU headquarters for questioning in relation to the Commonwealth law books. The day after his detainment, the attorney took to the High Court and filed legal proceedings against Attorney General Basil Williams, SC, to prove that the 14 law books are his property.
Following the legal arguments in court, the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George had granted the conservatory order, restraining officers of SOCU and the Guyana Police Force from seizing or detaining the said books.
Nandlall had explained to the media that when he was appointed Attorney General, he requested as part of his contract of service for the Government of Guyana to stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth law books. He had subscribed to Lexis Nexis, the publishers of the law reports.
His contentions were corroborated publicly by then President Donald Ramotar. However, two days later, on April 27, 2017, Nandlall was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge instituted by members of SOCU.
Nandlall continues to maintain that the accusation laid against him by SOCU was instigated by Attorney General Basil Williams because he [Nandlall] continues to criticise his [Willams’] performance.
Insisting that nothing was abnormal about the practice, the former AG had argued that it was done by other Government Ministries such as Finance and Health.
He had expressed awareness that for decades prior, the Government had paid for professional and technical publications, journals, periodicals, magazines. This, he said, had been done for Ministers as well as professional and technical personnel.
