Licensing officer wants 16-year-old corruption charges out

Two of the State’s witnesses have since died and the Licensing officer Ricky Samlal, cannot seemed to locate his own - a senior colleague who has long retired.

Samlal is charged with two counts of corruption and two counts of misbehaviour in public office. The charges emanate from an allegation, that on March 21, 2000, he solicited $500 from two persons.

In a motion filed by attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Michael Rooplal, they contend that the charges had been pending until six years after when the preliminary inquiry was heard.

Samlal was committed to stand trial on August 21, 2006.

The indictment was filed on March 5, 2008, the attorneys stated, paving the way for the file to reach the High Court. But since then, the case has been pending and Samlal is still awaiting his trial.