DPP yet to disclose likely charges for Anil Nandlall

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack is yet to give her advice in the case involving the country’s Attorney General Anil Nandlall who is accused of threatening the lives of the Publisher of the local daily – Kaieteur News and its staff.

When contacted on Tuesday (December 16), by iNews, officials at the DPP’s office confirmed that the file was there awaiting the DPP’s review and recommendation.

The Official could not say how long more it would be required to remain at the DPP’s Chambers and refused to provide iNews with the exact date when the file was received.

In fact, this news agency was rushed off the phone and told to contact Crime Chief Leslie James for additional information.

When approached today, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud would only say that the file was with the DPP awaiting her advice; clarifying too that the case was not closed.

It is approximately one month since the police completed the file and sent it to the DPP. Glenn Lall, over six weeks ago, had provided the police with a taped conversation between the AG and a Senior KN Reporter where he [Nandlall] had knowledge of a plan to attack the newspaper’s office and is alleged to have made threats against him [Lall].

After taking statements from several persons, the police forwarded the file to the DPP for her to advise on whether or not to institute charges against the Attorney General.

Kaieteur News in a recent report had pointed out that it took the DPP a mere two days to advise on a threatening language complaint made by Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority Khurshid Sattaur against Lall while the Nandlall file has been engaging her chambers’ attention for close to a month.

A source who has links to the DPP’s office reportedly told the newspaper that it is unusual for the DDP to take so long with matters of this nature.

There have been widespread calls for Nandlall’s resignation but he has refused to resign and has received the full support of President Donald Ramotar and the government.

Although Nandlall has admitted to the taped conversation, he viewed it as a “betrayal” but noted that it was taken out of “context” and was “manipulated.”

In the recording, the Attorney General could be heard saying among other things: “I told Adam [Adam Harris, Editor, Kaieteur News] everybody don’t have a newspaper to use as a weapon, I told Adam people got weapons. If they continue to attack people like this and they [people] have no way of responding, they will just walk with their weapon into that same F**king Saffon Street office and wah come shall do.”

The AG went on to say: “innocent people got to pay for f**king Paul… I tell you honestly, man to man, that will happen so the quicker you get out of there, the better for you.”

“There is a simpler way of dealing with this situation you know, I tell Glenn already. He knows I have capacity and I know his. I don’t have to go Court every day and issue press statements, I don’t have to resort to those methods…there are far more effective measures to which I can resort.”