Al-Rawi: Controversies that plagued the former T&T AG’s term
Faris Al-Rawi since his appointment as Attorney General on September 9, 2015, with the Prime Minister this is the only other office required to be filled for the formation of a government. Unsurprisingly Al-Rawi has been the subject of many news headlines and has been the focus of criticism. His term as AG, which ended last Wednesday when he was reassigned to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in the PM’s Cabinet reshuffle.
Children posing with high-powered weapons on a military base
In October 2016 photographs of Al-Rawi’s teenage children posing with high-powered weapons on a military base. An investigation into whether there was a breach of the Firearms Act. Major Al Alexander, said the AG’s family members “were not involved in the training exercise; the purpose of them being there was for them to understand in particular emergencies what is done... It was really to remove the fear and apprehension... And we allowed them to hold it (the weapons)”.
At the time several former attorneys general, including Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, John Jeremie, Anand Ramlogan and Garvin Nicholas, indicated no such training had ever been offered to them and their families.
Rental of family properties
AG and his wife stood to pocket $23 million from the State’s rental of a family-owned property in St Clair. Al-Rawi and his spouse, Mona Nahous, were the only shareholders of the property which was being leased by the Government for $644,000 a month. The deal would put $23.18 million into the pockets of Al-Rawi and Nahous for a property bought for $2.5 million in 2006.The Attorney General as a member of the Government is tenant as well as landlord.
Recusals
Al-Rawi recused himself 37 times between 2015 and 2020 from the Cabinet room because of conflict-of-interest issues. Stuart Young had recused himself 57 times in the same period. The number of recusals to suggest that conflicts of interests existed. The Prime Minister spoke in defense of Young and Al-Rawi, commending them for their proactive approach and that “recusal is part of the operation of the Cabinet”.
The Nelson deal
The plea agreement between the State and British QC Vincent Nelson whose testimony was to be obtained in the corruption case against former AG Anand Ramlogan and former senator Gerald Ramdeen. The agreement included non-disclosure to prosecuting, tax enforcement, regulatory and disciplinary authorities outside of T&T; no civil litigation to recoup fees paid to Nelson; no criminal proceedings to be taken out against him and indemnity for Nelson from any litigation over allegations contained in his statement. The immunity agreement, was “unprecedented and troubling”, the DPP had said he was not privy to any of the discussions relating to the agreement. A surprise.
Prime Minister dismissed the criticisms, stating that the attacks on the Attorney General were “nothing more than an attempt to derail white collar criminal investigations against certain members of the former administration...” Six years of investigations an no charges against anyone.
Legal Notice 183
Al-Rawi faced criticism over the drafting of Legal Notice 183 which amended the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police selection order to allow a person from outside the rank of the Police Service, who had previously had a contract with the TTPS, to act as Police Commissioner and to do so without resort to Parliament.
However, Justice Nadia Kangaloo ruled that paragraph four of Legal Notice 183 was void and contrary to what was clearly stated in the Constitution. This controversy created the loudest calls for Al Rawi’s dismissal or resignation.
The Porsche sale
Questions about the relationship between Al-Rawi and PolSC member Roger Kawalsingh . Documents substantiate a claim that former PolSC member Roger Kawalsingh was driving a Porsche Cayenne which was still registered in the name of then AG Al-Rawi in 2020.The Attorney General admitted that he had known Kawalsingh “for decades” and that he did sell his vehicle to him in 2016. Why was the ownership not transferred in 2016?
Adrian Scoon affair
In early January this year, Al-Rawi faced allegations of interference in a matter involving businessman Adrian Scoon the son of Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon. Detained by the police in relation to a Boxing Day seaside party on his boat, admitted to calling the Attorney General when the police arrived on his vessel. Excerpts from the station diary revealed that on December 26, 2021, Scoon “made a phone call on his phone to the AG.
According to the diary, the male voice on the other end identified himself as “Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi... he stated he was not impeding on the investigation, but his position was that the vessel was not deemed a party boat and it was his opinion that no offence was committed”. The AG was advised that in accordance with the Covid-19 Regulations, the Ocean Pelican was deemed to be a party boat and should have had an exemption from the Minister of Health”. The conversation then ended.
Children posing with high-powered weapons on a military base
In October 2016 photographs of Al-Rawi’s teenage children posing with high-powered weapons on a military base. An investigation into whether there was a breach of the Firearms Act. Major Al Alexander, said the AG’s family members “were not involved in the training exercise; the purpose of them being there was for them to understand in particular emergencies what is done... It was really to remove the fear and apprehension... And we allowed them to hold it (the weapons)”.
At the time several former attorneys general, including Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, John Jeremie, Anand Ramlogan and Garvin Nicholas, indicated no such training had ever been offered to them and their families.
Rental of family properties
AG and his wife stood to pocket $23 million from the State’s rental of a family-owned property in St Clair. Al-Rawi and his spouse, Mona Nahous, were the only shareholders of the property which was being leased by the Government for $644,000 a month. The deal would put $23.18 million into the pockets of Al-Rawi and Nahous for a property bought for $2.5 million in 2006.The Attorney General as a member of the Government is tenant as well as landlord.
Recusals
Al-Rawi recused himself 37 times between 2015 and 2020 from the Cabinet room because of conflict-of-interest issues. Stuart Young had recused himself 57 times in the same period. The number of recusals to suggest that conflicts of interests existed. The Prime Minister spoke in defense of Young and Al-Rawi, commending them for their proactive approach and that “recusal is part of the operation of the Cabinet”.
The Nelson deal
The plea agreement between the State and British QC Vincent Nelson whose testimony was to be obtained in the corruption case against former AG Anand Ramlogan and former senator Gerald Ramdeen. The agreement included non-disclosure to prosecuting, tax enforcement, regulatory and disciplinary authorities outside of T&T; no civil litigation to recoup fees paid to Nelson; no criminal proceedings to be taken out against him and indemnity for Nelson from any litigation over allegations contained in his statement. The immunity agreement, was “unprecedented and troubling”, the DPP had said he was not privy to any of the discussions relating to the agreement. A surprise.
Prime Minister dismissed the criticisms, stating that the attacks on the Attorney General were “nothing more than an attempt to derail white collar criminal investigations against certain members of the former administration...” Six years of investigations an no charges against anyone.
Legal Notice 183
Al-Rawi faced criticism over the drafting of Legal Notice 183 which amended the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police selection order to allow a person from outside the rank of the Police Service, who had previously had a contract with the TTPS, to act as Police Commissioner and to do so without resort to Parliament.
However, Justice Nadia Kangaloo ruled that paragraph four of Legal Notice 183 was void and contrary to what was clearly stated in the Constitution. This controversy created the loudest calls for Al Rawi’s dismissal or resignation.
The Porsche sale
Questions about the relationship between Al-Rawi and PolSC member Roger Kawalsingh . Documents substantiate a claim that former PolSC member Roger Kawalsingh was driving a Porsche Cayenne which was still registered in the name of then AG Al-Rawi in 2020.The Attorney General admitted that he had known Kawalsingh “for decades” and that he did sell his vehicle to him in 2016. Why was the ownership not transferred in 2016?
Adrian Scoon affair
In early January this year, Al-Rawi faced allegations of interference in a matter involving businessman Adrian Scoon the son of Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon. Detained by the police in relation to a Boxing Day seaside party on his boat, admitted to calling the Attorney General when the police arrived on his vessel. Excerpts from the station diary revealed that on December 26, 2021, Scoon “made a phone call on his phone to the AG.
According to the diary, the male voice on the other end identified himself as “Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi... he stated he was not impeding on the investigation, but his position was that the vessel was not deemed a party boat and it was his opinion that no offence was committed”. The AG was advised that in accordance with the Covid-19 Regulations, the Ocean Pelican was deemed to be a party boat and should have had an exemption from the Minister of Health”. The conversation then ended.
Al-Rawi has been the subject of many news headlines and has been the focus of criticism. His term as AG, which ended last Wednesday when he was reassigned to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in the PM’s Cabinet reshuffle.
Excerpts obtained from Various T&T newspapers.
