Attorney Jaya Manickchand yesterday said she was never retained by Johnny Anthony Welshman, who has made abuse allegations against Speaker Raphael Trotman, although she did seek to “mediate” a settlement on his behalf.
“I was never retained by Johnny Welshman in the ongoing matter with allegations against Raphael Trotman. I am not retained by him and I do not (present tense) represent Mr Welshman,” Manickchand stated in a letter to the editor that she described as her last statement on her involvement in the matter.
Trotman, who has denied the allegations, included texts sent to him by Manickchand advising a settlement as an exhibit in the filings for legal proceedings against Welshman, from whom he is seeking in excess of $50 million in damages for alleged libel.
Trotman’s party, the AFC, which maintains that the allegations are part of a politically-directed campaign against him, has said it was evident from the text messages that Manickchand acted extensively on behalf of Welshman and was deeply involved in representing his interests.
In her letter yesterday, Manickchand stated that she was open to doing a lie detector test which would prove there was nothing sinister or politically-motivated in her talks with Welshman.
“I would be happy to take a lie detector test as to whether my involvement in this matter was in any way sinister
