AG: Witness family case being attended to

In the Senate on Tuesday, during debate on the Plea Bargaining Bill, Ramdeen raised the case of a family who gave evidence in a criminal prosecution and willingly entered under the provisions of the Justice Protection Act. He reported that the accused were not convicted and the family had been sent to another Caribbean island, only to be “abanodned” by the State. He said they had since returned to this country and their lives were now in danger.

Ramdeen announced that he planned to write to the AG on the matter.

Al Rawi, speaking to Newsday yesterday in a telephone interview, confirmed that Ramdeen had written to him, but said he would not be able to discuss the details of the case.

He said, however, that justice protection was a very important agency and explained that the system involved various components, including foreign authorities.

“It is a delicate balance.” He said the agency is receiving administrative support and reform through a combined support network including the National Security Ministry and the Attorney General’s office. He explained that his office co-ordinates the criminal law division, while National Security deals with the protective side.

Al Rawi said justice protection is “not something new” and he had spoken about it in the past. He recalled that he previously reported there was one case in which the State spent $40 million on only one matter for justice protection. He said there were a lot of delays in the system and a case could go on for 17 years or more without a trial going forward.