Attorney General Charles Ramson says an investigation into Roger Khan’s operations here is possible if a judge were to direct the DPP to initiate a probe since according to him, his office has limited parameters “within which I must operate.” He cautioned though that the investigative process must initially take its course.
Speaking on the issue of the confessed Guyanese drug trafficker for the first time, the AG who is also the principal legal advisor to the state said on Friday that steps to initiate an investigation cannot be taken at the political level.
“The enforcement agencies have got to play their part in enquiring whether there is any truth about the allegations that are coming out in the press; it’s one thing to say things in the press but it’s a another thing to have actual statements in front of the investigating agencies,” he stated.
Ramson said that he is unaware if any request has been made to the US authorities for information on the Khan case, adding that he was last informed that the Police Commissioner is waiting on information from the US. He said too that he recalls the President pronouncing on a Roger Khan probe here and pointing to the fact that such is the job of the Police Commissioner and “whoever he wishes to seek assistance from.”
“I don’t want people to believe that this Roger Khan story must override what is happening on a day-to-day basis in the country. Roger Khan has pleaded guilty, we are waiting to hear now what penalty he is going to suffer… the diplomatic process can be used, how far it will get is another matter,” he told reporters.
But when posed with the question that Khan’s conviction was linked to evidence that was based on his operations in Guyana, Ramson declared that there is no indication that Khan exported the stuff from within “this country.” He challenged the reporter posing the question to produce the evidence from anywhere in the press “that he exported it from here.”
In relation to testimony that the administration was linked to Khan, the AG replied, “I don’t know about that! The Minister whose name was called has categorically and publicly denied any involvement.”
He then went on to vouch for Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who has been repeatedly named as a government contact – claims the Minister has strenuously denied.
“Speaking for myself, I know Minister Ramsammy and at one stage I thought they really meant me because it’s more in my kind of character make-up to get involved at that level. I don’t believe Minister Ramsammy would ever get involved in something like that, I know the man!”
On the issue of Selwyn Vaughn and his testimony and the revelation that an infamous gang was operating here, he responded, “So? We have several gangs here operating, right now. There was a gang in Sophia.”
However, he pointed out that he has no problem with the evidence being tested here in a local court.
“I would have thought that this man Vaughn, the press would have been a little wary about relying too much on [him] having regard to the benefits that he has been receiving. Guyanese would give an arm and a leg to become a resident of the US that is a known fact,” Ramson continued.
Ramson also weighed in on the intercept spy equipment that was seized from Khan saying that he feels the equipment which was unveiled by the Police Commissioner was the one that was in Khan’s possession when police detained him back in 2002.
“I have been following the information in the press, the [Myers] man who said that he is manufacturer of the equipment, he says that equipment was manufactured in 2003, Khan was charged in 2002, so the equipment the police have must be the one that was seized from Khan unless there were two sets of equipment,” he said.
Further, Ramson responded to a question about whether the administration would go after Khan’s assets given that the money laundering legislation has been assented to. He opined that whatever steps have to be taken would be done in conjunction with the DPP since that office has the constitutional responsibility for “certain things to be done.”
While noting that he is a firm believer of the constitution and a man’s constitutional right to his property “whether it is Roger Khan, yours or mine,” he said that if there is evidence that Khan’s drug resources were used in relation to property he has here and that once it can satisfy that test that is required, the administration would move on it. He stressed his point saying, “I am sure every step will be taken by this government and as long as I sit here as the AG.”
Ramson disclosed that his office has been working with the authorities in other countries and seizing people’s property recently.
He said also that recently they were trying to get information out of Interpol, noting that the rules and regulations in the US would not allow Interpol to access the information they were seeking.
“These things are happening behind the scene and the public is not aware of it,” Ramson stated.
Ramson irritably dismissed the idea of Interpol coming to Guyana when questioned, declaring that Guyana is a sovereign state.
“Why Guyana must be subjected to this kind of invasion. What is this story about Interpol coming here? Unless we decide to invite them for a particular purpose, but Interpol has no right to be here. Interpol has no such authority to enter the territory of a sovereign state,” he added.
