Requests for the appointment of a special prosecutor in the magistrate’s courts where there is no cost to the state should be automatically granted by the DPP’s Chambers, according to attorney at law, Gino Persaud.
Persaud strongly believes that if the virtual complainant is confident that there is sufficient evidence to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt and given that such a private arrangement would cost the state nothing, then the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should have no issue with the appointment of a special prosecutor.
“I see nothing unreasonable or unusual with the appointment of special prosecutors since police prosecutors, who are not legally trained, are usually inexperienced, ill-equipped and not competent enough to prosecute serious offences especially white collar crime,” he told Stabroek News.
Persaud was responding to questions from this newspaper on the manner of appointment of special prosecutors. He had been one of two lawyers in 2008 who the Roman Catholic Church sought to have jointly prosecute a fraud case surrounding the Sacred Heart Church which was destroyed in a fire. The request to the DPP was never granted. Persaud has since served as a special prosecutor in other cases.
A special prosecutor was recently appointed in a fraud case in which city businessman Nazar Mohamed alleged that an employee, Eon Ferreira misappropriated some $120 million, money which was given to him to purchase gold. The alleged offence was committed sometime between June 22 and 28, at Bartica and Ferreira made his first court appearance on July 1. Special prosecutor attorney Latchmie Rahamat was on hand to prosecute the matter from the first hearing.
Over the years, concerns have been raised about the greenlighting of
