Coalition criticises DPP for withdrawing case against Nandlall

The APNU+AFC Coalition has accused the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of being “politically compromised” and of acting in the interest of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

In a press statement on Thursday, the party expressed its dismay with the recent decision of DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack to withdraw charges against Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall for larceny of law books belonging to the State.

In 2017, charges were instituted against Nandlall which alleged that between May 18, 2015 to May 29, 2015, in his previous capacity as AG, he fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at $2,313,853, property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit.

However, just days ago, the DPP wrote to Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, who was conducting the trial, informing him that the matter was no longer being pursued.

The APNU+AFC stated: “These charges were instituted by the DPP and now appear to have been arbitrarily withdrawn without explanation or reason. The withdrawal of these charges is yet another signpost signalling the erosion of law and order in the Guyanese society since August 2nd, 2020. The withdrawal of the charges highlights that the office of the DPP has become politically compromised and the DPP is acting, not independently or of her own free volition within the law, but under duress and immense political pressure and direction.”

Furthermore, the Coalition claimed that since the PPP/C Administration took up office, several well-known, prominent pro-PPP attorneys, including sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) frequent the DPP chambers daily.

Prior to the withdrawal of the charges against the Attorney General, the Coalition had accused the DPP of going the extra mile to pin electoral fraud on employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Chairperson, Volda Lawrence.

In August 2020, the Office of the DPP, in exercise of its legal powers, also discontinued private criminal charges filed against Elections Commission Chairperson for alleged malfeasance in public office filed by two citizens. However, the same service had not been granted to Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield for whom criminal charges were also filed.

“The DPP chambers has become a virtual cook shop for politically motivated and vindictive trumped-up charges. The APNU+AFC Coalition calls for the DPP to provide to the public, without delay, a thorough explanation for her withdrawal of the charges against Nandlall,” the party stated.