Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday said he did not know why the former lawyer of drug trafficker Roger Khan has repeatedly named him in a slew of emails as being the government minister who assisted in Khan being trained in the operation of spy equipment.
“I don’t know anything about…” the minister said yesterday morning when approached by Stabroek News and when further pressed about why his name would be mentioned in emails by Robert Simels the minister said: “Yeah, I don’t know anything about that” .
The minister was then showed copies of the email and he once again said “Yeah, but it doesn’t change anything…” Told that the emails were copies of original court documents Ramsammy did not budge from his earlier response and replied: “Yeah but that doesn’t change it… I don’t know anything about it…” He said he did not know why Simels keeps calling his name, “and I keep saying no… I don’t know about anything.”
Simels revealed Ramsammy’s name in a number of emails to representatives of the Smyth Myers Communications company, which is based in the UK with an office in the US, during the period he represented Khan.
“As I described to you on the telephone, I am looking to speak to [name of employee], and would like you to provide his contact information. I have been in touch with the Minister of Health in Guyana, Leslie Ramsammy, Nancy Salvador from the Spy Shop in Miami, Florida, and have determined that your company provided certain triangulation equipment to the government of Guyana…. I represent an individual, Shaheed Khan, a citizen of Guyana who operated the equipment on behalf of the Guyanese government We know that [name of employee] trained my client in the use of said equipment and need to confirm same with [name of employee].
“I am trying to accomplish this task in the least onerous way avoiding your company’s involvement in same. However, as you can imagine, while I am willing to back door my approach, by simply communicating with [name of employee], an option would be to take steps that would require your company to produce any records and a witness with regard to that transaction.
“I do not wish to take the latter steps, and would appreciate your assistance in locating [name of employee],” Simels said in the November 13, 2007 email to Peter Myers.
On its website, Smith Myers Communications describes itself as a leading supplier of test and measurement equipment to the global cellular industry. “With a long history in the design of specialised devices, the company is well placed to supply the equipment that cellular operators need to enable them to effectively maintain their networks,” the company said.
Simels’ emails to the company representatives were exhibits in a motion he filed in a bid to have the charges of mailing and possession of eavesdropping equipment that were recently filed against him and his former assistant, Arianne Irving, dismissed.
The eavesdropping charges were two of the 14 new charges recently filed against the two lawyers who had represented Khan.
Simels and Irving, who had been charged with witness tampering jointly with Khan, were slapped with the 14 charges in a superseding indictment. Khan had pleaded guilty to this charge, drug trafficking charges as well as the gun-running charge he had faced in Vermont.
Simels and Irving now face one charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice, eight charges of attempting to obstruct justice, one charge of attempted witness tampering, one charge of the importation of eavesdropping equipment, one of possession of such equipment and one charge of bribery, while Simels faces a separate charge of making a false statement.
“I have reviewed the submission made by the company, which was limited to an invoice to the Spy Shop for training. Of course, the subpoena calls for a witness to attend the trial. However, in submitting the two documents your representative failed to comply with the items specified by the Court: any and all documents, e-mail communications, or facsimiles referencing to the sale of computer telephone surveillance equipment (Smith Myers Communications, Ltd Serial # 2111/016, manufactured in the UK, CSM, including, but not limited to travel documents of Smith Myers employees, including [name of employee], to Guyana to install or train…….
“I would expect from our prior communication you would appreciate that this includes documents showing the sale of the equipment to the Spy Shop, and the travel and related documents for your employees in Guyana in 2002 to train those who were to use the equipment and their interaction, by email and otherwise, with any members of the government of Guyana, including Minister Leslie Ramsammy and Roger Khan.
“Please advise when the additional documents are to be provided, and whether X can speak to your representative in advance of his testimony to arrange a date, and preview our questions to that person. Of course, the most facile person to have testify is [name of employee],” a June 30, 2008 email from Simels said.
Another email written by Simels on July 11, 2008 to Peter Myers read: “I have seen the response letter. I will file a motion to compel production and a witness at trial, but am hoping to avoid that litigation. This is a simple matter-Spy Shop purchased this machine on the authority of the Guyana government. Your company provided technical support in the training of individuals in Guyana. Providing a simple invoice for training, without any other documentation as to who provided the training, the underlying billing rather than a lump sum figure for travel and lodging accommodations in Guyana, and significantly, the actual invoice for the sale of the triangulation equipment are all within your possession and your company is subject to the subpoena and compliance since you have a US office. We can also use international treaties to enforce, and I will not hesitate to do so, if needed. I have done so a number of years ago with Matrix Churchill and MI 6.
“I would appreciate it if you would advise by Monday, or I will begin taking steps to force your company into court in federal court in New York to deal with these matters.”
Ramsammy’s name has been mentioned in relation to Khan repeatedlyby both Simels and the US government’s confidential source (CS) during a conversation, a copy of which has been seen by this newspaper.
Ramsammy’s name was also on list which included drug accused individuals, dead notorious criminals and present and past members of the Guyana Police Force that was to be included in a questionnaire for prospective jurors Khan’s trial before he threw in the towel and pled guilty to trafficking in 150 grammes of cocaine.
