Businessman wants $ back from police

The monies include United States, Canadian, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean dollars, British Pound Sterling, Venezuelan Bolivars, Pesos, Yen, Rupees and notes from Denmark, Turkey, Thailand, Singapore, Russian and Hong Kong .

Primnath Geelal who owns “Super Wholesalers and Distributors Ltd” in El Socorro, is challenging the constitutionality of certain aspects of the Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as the powers of the police and magistrates to make detention Orders .

Geelal, 53, and his wife, Dhanrajie, were arrested and detained by police officers on July 31, but later released without charge .

In documents filed in the High Court, San Fernando, Geelal stated that police officers stormed his business place and seized the cash .

He stated that he had told the police officers that the cash represented his travels to those respective countries .

However, he stated, the police officers seized the monies and left the business place. Yesterday, before Justice Rajendra Rampersad, Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, together with attorneys Kelvin Ramkissoon, Kent Samlal and Douglas Bayley, submitted that the matter was one of critical importance because it affected detention Orders made by the courts under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which could result in the State having to return millions of dollars to citizens whose property have been seized by the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Financial Intelligence Bureau, of the police service .

Geelal and his wife were seeking a declaration that their right to use and enjoyment of their property, except by due process of law, were violated .

After hearing Ramlogan’s argument yesterday, Justice Rampersad granted leave to the businessman to seek judicial review .