The case was called before Magistrate Fabio Azore and Nandlall, 44, of 28-29 Lama Avenue Bel Air Georgetown was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that he fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at GY$2.3 million to his own use, as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
He was represented by Attorney Glen Hanoman and a battery of lawyers; he was released on his own recognizance and later stepped out the prisoner’s dock to sign the recognizance slip.
Nandlall initially was scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan Thursday afternoon, however the Magistrate stood the matter down for Friday for hearing at 9:00hrs at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. This action by the Magistrate was met with much disappointment by the Special Prosecutor assigned to the case, Patrice Henry and Head of SOCU, Sydney James. Henry had requested a meeting with Chancellor of Judiciary, Yonnette Cummings- Edwards to discuss the Chief Magistrate’s delay in hearing the matter, which resulted in the case being heard Thursday.
Meanwhile, James told Guyana Chronicle that he was disappointed in McLennan’s decision to delay the matter, which he noted provides an opportunity for Nandlall to initiate legal proceedings to block the charge. James however noted that “we are all professionals,” and urged the judiciary to support the work of SOCU.
The SOCU Head also said that Nandlall did not cooperate with investigators when he was questioned about the purchase of the law books on Monday. According to James, even though Nandlall claimed that the books were secured in a house and the keys were with his wife overseas, the former AG subsequently told reporters that he has no intention of returning the books.
Meanwhile after Nandlall speaking with media operative after leaving the courtroom Nandlall said the charges are not surprising since he deemed it a political and sinister motive.
“The books are presently US$2,000 and the state will spend millions to prosecute this charge and it will go nowhere, the charge should not have been filed since I’ve already instituted proceedings in the constitutional court, since the constitution is very clear that a magistrate ought to defer to the superiority of the High Court and to the superior law of the land,” he told reporters.
Nandlall said he is humbled at the expense in which the authorities are willing to go in breaking his spirit, but the charged has catapulted him into the line of many illustrious politicians who were also charged as part of the political struggle.
“The criminal justice system is being used as a political instrument, the state paid my light bills, phone bills, and also my subscription fees, the state can’t claim my cell phone because they paid my phone bill, they can’t claim my electrical appliances because they paid my light bill, similarly they can’t claim the law books, because they don’t have any relationship with the supply of the law book, I was being supplied those law books that predated a decade before my appointment.” Nandlall said.
Over the last two years, Nandlall has repeatedly confirmed that while he was AG, law books were purchased for him by the state, using taxpayers’ money. The missing books were bought from Lexis Nexis (U.K.), publishers of the Commonwealth Law Reports, and are said to be worth over $2.5M.
However, after the PPP was unseated in 2015, Nandlall took possession of the books which were bought for him as AG, by the state. At a press conference held at Freedom House today after being released by SOCU, Nandlall said that the law books are in his possession and he has no intention of returning it to the State.
He subsequently secured an order in the High Court which bars the police from seizing the books.
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