South bank blanks Ramdhanie

Ramdhanie learnt of this yesterday when he went to a commercial bank in Point Fortin to transact business.

Freed a month ago by the Privy Council on a life sentence for drug trafficking, Ramdhanie was informed by bank tellers that a "hold" had been placed on bank accounts in his name.

It was an irate Ramdhanie, of Fullerton Village, Icacos, who left the bank and contacted his attorneys.

Contacted yesterday, attorney Mark Seepersad told Newsday that he was yet to enquire about the precise nature of the transaction Ramdhanie went to transact at the bank.

Confirming that Ramdhanie had contacted him about the matter, Seepersad said he would meet with his client today to further discuss the matter in detail. "I cannot say at this time what I'm dealing with. When I meet with my client I will be more apprised of what exactly is going on," Seepersad said.

Seepersad, however, confirmed that Ramdhanie was last week served with a letter from the Inland Revenue Department. The letter requested that Ramdhanie pay up income taxes owing since 1991.

Ramdhanie spent nine years in jail before he was freed. The State has been ordered by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to pay legal cost to Ramdhanie for the appeal against his life sentence straight up to the Privy Council. The State was also ordered to return some $4 million in assets to the Ramdhanie estate.

In a recent interview with Ramdhanie, he disclosed that 40,000 pounds sterling were spent in legal fees.

Attorneys at the State Solicitor's Department declined to confirm whether the Garnishee Order was obtained and for what purpose. Such an order allows a party to whom monies is owed to extract monies owing on an instalment basis.