In a less than two weeks, former Attorney-General (AG) Anil Nandlall will be expected to lead his defence to the charge that he fraudulently converted over $2 million in law reports.
Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore yesterday informed Nandlall that based on the evidence led by the Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), she found that a prima facie case has been made against him and she called upon him to lead a defence to the charge.
The charge against Nandlall states that between May 8th, 2015 and May 29th, 2015, at Georgetown, being a bailee and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, having 14 law reports, valued at $2,313,853 and property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, fraudulently took or converted the reports to his own use and benefit.
Nandlall’s attorney, Neil Boston, who is leading the defence in association with Glenn Hanoman and others, had made no-case submissions on July 24th.
SOCU prosecutor Patrice Henry responded to those submissions on August 13th, when he urged the court to call upon Nandlall to lead a defence to the charge.
The magistrate later set September 24th for the ruling. However, the decision was delayed until yesterday, when the court overruled the no-case submissions and called upon Nandlall to lead his defence.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until December 6th.
Nandlall, who has maintained his innocence, previously said the reports were purchased for him while he was serving as Attorney General, in keeping with an oral arrangement that he had with the then president Donald Ramotar as a condition for his taking up the post.
