Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence-Maharaj says the explanation by current Attorney General Reginald Armour regarding the state’s failure to file a defence in a 20 million dollar malicious prosecution case is suspicious.
The state was forced to pay 2.1 million dollars each to the nine men who were freed of murder in the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman case.
The men took the state to court alleging malicious prosecution but the state failed to file a defence in the matter.
Attorney General Reginald Armour yesterday held a press conference at which he indicated that this was due to the file disappearing from the Solicitor General’s office.
However, Lawrence-Maharaj told Power 102 Digital Power Breakfast Show that the explanation offered by AG Armour does not make sense as the AG’s office had other options available if indeed the file was missing.
He noted that if the file was misplaced or lost, another file could have been created to put in a defence.
He added that copies of the files necessary to compile a defence could also easily have been obtained from the police and the court.
Mr Lawrence-Maharaj added however that he does not believe that the Attorney General is to blame for the file’s disappearance.
He instead said the Solicitor General’s office is answerable as an AG is not involved in the day to day running of the office.
The Attorney General has since launched an inquiry into the incident and the file’s disappearance.
Mr Lawrence-Maharaj added that there is a need for the inquiry so that blame can be accurately apportioned and the ministry can be cleared of any wrongdoing.
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