Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan testified in court yesterday about his real estate investments, saying he bought four separate properties all funded from his private practice and all were acquired before he accepted the role as a government minister in May 2010.
Ramlogan was giving evidence in support of a defamation lawsuit he brought against his one-time Cabinet colleague Jack Warner who claimed at a public meeting that former attorney general acquired 51 properties during his tenure.
In his lengthy testimony which spanned more than five hours, Ramlogan repeatedly stated that Warner’s claims were not true.
“That is completely false I have no reason to lie. If I did I would not be here,” Ramlogan said.
Throughout the hearing before Justice Robin Mohammed, at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain. Ramlogan refrained from making eye contact with Warner who was seated at the opposite end of the courtroom.
Warner resigned in April 2013 over allegations of bribery related to his role as then vice-president of Fifa. Warner went on to form a political party, the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), and retained his Chaguanas West seat in a by-election.
Ramlogan resigned in February after claims of witness tampering were made by director of the Police Complaints Authority David West. Police are still investigating that matter.
As he sought to prove Warner’s claims, which were made at a ILP public meeting in 2013 had a factual basis, his lawyer Keith Scotland alleged that Warner had obtained the information through private conversations with Ramlogan.
Ramlogan categorically denied that as he said: “We would discuss matters related to the Government and the political party. I cannot say I trusted Warner enough to discuss my personal affairs with him. That kind of relationship did not exist.”
While he admitted his client’s allegations painted Ramlogan in a negative light, Scotland claimed Warner was justified as it was made while he was commenting on issues of national importance as the leader of a “major” political party.
“I would not describe it like as that,” Ramlogan said as he joked about the size of the ILP’s support base.
Moving away from the size of Ramlogan’s alleged property portfolio described by Warner, Scotland quizzed Ramlogan on his ability to purchase the four properties which he admitted he owned in the lawsuit.
“You have acknowledged you own some substantial properties. Do you agree that you can’t afford to buy all of them on a minister’s salary?” Scotland asked.
Ramlogan said: “Collectively no but individually yes.” He then claimed that all the properties he owned were purchased before his stint as AG and using money he earned from his private legal practice.
Scotland drew an objection from Ramlogan’s legal team as he attempted to question him on allegations of witness tampering.
“That is totally irrelevant. What occurred after October 2013 has no bearing in this case. He is seeking to impugn the reputation of this man,” Senior Counsel Avory Sinanan quipped.
Justice Mohammed agreed as he barred Scotland from touching on the topic again.
Warner was expected to testify after Ramlogan but he had to leave the hearing early to attend the funeral of ILP’s Tobago regional co-ordinator Lionel Coker, who died last week.
Ramlogan is also being represented by Kelvin Ramkisson, Gerald Ramdeen and Varun Debideen.
The trial continues this morning.