Former Trinidad and Tobago attorney general Anand Ramlogan was on Wednesday formally charged with misbehavior in public office and obstruction of justice, some 30 hours after picked up at his home.
A statement issued by the TT Police Service (TTPS) stated that the charges against Ramlogan, who served as attorney general from 2010-15, arose from allegations contained in a report made by Mr. David West to the Commissioner of Police on January 28, 2015.”
September 1 court appearance
The statement said that the charges were laid against Ramlogan, 45, following consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. He will appear in court on Friday September 1, “to answer the charges”. He was released on TT$750,00 bail.
The police are probing allegations that Ramlogan had sought to pervert the course of justice by asking West, the director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to withdraw a statement he had made in support of the then Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley in a lawsuit more than two years ago.
Fired by PM Persad Bissessar
In 2015, then Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar fired Ramlogan and her national security minister Gary Griffith over the allegations.
The lawsuit followed statement allegedly made by Rowley during a news conference relating to the failed extradition involving businessmen Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh. Both men are reported to be financiers of the United National Congress and are wanted in the United States on corruption charges.
Denies allegations
Ramlogan has denied that he asked David West to withdraw his witness statement in support of Rowley six days before the PCA director took up his new post.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) urged members of the public to refrain from making comments on the detention of Ramlogan. The LATT chided two politicians for expressing an opinion on the matter.
