Attorney General Reginald Armour has received the interim report from the Stanley John led Investigative Team, which was appointed to probe the disappearance and subsequent reappearance of a file from his office.
Retired Justice John and retired Justice Rolston Nelson were appointed by Armour in February to advise the State on the way forward, following the court’s award of over $20 million to the nine former murder accused in the 2006 kidnapping and murder of businesswoman Naipaul-Coolman.
An investigation was ordered into the State’s failure to file a defence in the men’s claim for malicious prosecution—a situation which was attributed to a missing file of their claim.
The file reappeared just as mysteriously as it disappeared and was handed over to acting Solicitor General Karleen Seenath, who transferred it to the investigative team.
The Interim Report addresses the first three of the Team’s Terms of Reference, numbers one through three. namely:
1. To inquire into the facts and circumstances relating to CV2020-001243 Shervon Peters and ors v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago commencing from June 22, 2020 when service of the claim form and statement of case were effected, including the decision of the High Court dated January 30, 2023 and, and culminating in the hand-over of the file in CV2020-001243 to the Acting Solicitor General on the 6th February, 2023.
2. To inquire into and establish the facts and circumstances regarding the role or roles played by any Minister, member of the Civil Law Department or any other person employed at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs in the management and conduct of CV2020-001243.
3. To inquire into and establish whether there was any dereliction of duty, violation of any law, conflict of interest and/or breach of trust on the part of any Minister, member of the Civil Law Department or any other person employed at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs in the management and conduct of CV2020-01243.
On receiving the interim report, the AG applauded the team’s efforts in delivering the report within the mandated timeframe.
Armour assured that the report will be carefully considered.
The Attorney General added that he looks forward to the equally expeditious delivery of the Full and Final Report with Recommendations from the team.
COMMENTS