Calling the DPP’s decision to drop corruption charges against Anand Ramlogan and Gerald Ramdeen a “stunning development and surprise”, Attorney General Reginald Armour says he will be seeking legal advice on the matter to “ensure that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of justice”.

A statement from the AG on Monday afternoon said the decision was particularly surprising, given the reasoning that State witness Vincent Nelson does not intend to give evidence until a civil matter with the State is settled.

“The discontinuance of the criminal charges against Messrs. Ramlogan and Ramdeen by the Director of Public Prosecutions has understandably come as a stunning development and surprise, moreso as the Director’s decision is said to be predicated upon an indication by the State witness Vincent Nelson that he does not intend to give evidence pending the determination of civil proceedings he brought in the High Court against the State of Trinidad and Tobago. In those proceedings he is claiming, among other things, that the State should indemnify him for the fine of $2.25 million he was ordered by the High Court to pay when he pleaded guilty to charges brought against him for conspiring with Messrs Ramlogan and Ramdeen to pay bribes to Mr Ramlogan.,” Mr. Armour said.

“The discontinuance is also surprising having regard to the fact that Nelson entered into a plea agreement with the DPP to give evidence against Ramlogan and Ramdeen in exchange for a recommendation by the Director to the High Court that Nelson be given a non-custodial sentence. Mr Nelson has not, to date, recanted any admission of wrongdoing he made in the criminal proceedings,” the AG continued.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader has dismissed the attorney General’s position on the matter, calling him “a disgrace and a shameful liar”.

In a five line press release, Persad-Bissessar said: “He should leave no stone unturned to recover the money he has cost the state for his lying on an affidavit in a Miami court. Citizens should ignore this lying and disgraced flop Attorney General because he may not even remember his press statement by next week. Reginald Armour is a laughingstock who should be ignored.”

Meanwhile, in an earlier statement on Monday, the UNC welcomed the DPP’s decision to drop the charges. 

“We see this as the tip of the iceberg of PNM corruption and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and we will be relentless in our pursuit of the truth so that justice can be done,” it said. 

“The UNC calls upon the DPP to make public the civil lawsuit Nelson has filed against Al-Rawi. Several questions now arise: Was the indemnity agreement a clever disguise or illicit vehicle for the payment of monies to induce Nelson to fabricate evidence against Ramlogan and Ramdeen?” it asked.