Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has encouraged State attorneys to pursue legal action against persons who make what he described as false, defamatory or intimidating attacks against them. The follows allegations levelled against two senior attorneys from the Attorney General’s Chambers by sisters of remanded Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed.
In a statement issued Friday, Nandlall rejected allegations made by Hana Mohamed, against Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna V. Lall and Assistant Solicitor General Ronetta Sargent over their conduct during High Court proceedings on Thursday.
Hana Mohamed alleged in a Facebook post that the two State attorneys “repeatedly intimidated, laughed at and mocked” her mother, Bonita Mohamed, during approximately three hours of court proceedings concerning an application for her brother’s release on bail.
She described their alleged conduct as “unprofessional and intimidating” and argued that attorneys representing the State should maintain high standards of professionalism and decorum.
Nandlall, however, rejected that account, describing the publication as “malicious, false and defamatory” and in turn, accusing the Mohameds of making “serious and wholly unfounded allegations of professional misconduct” against the two attorneys.
“However, the extension of such attacks to the staff of the Attorney General’s Chambers, who are simply discharging their professional duties, will not be tolerated,” Nandlall said.
He said that while he has personally declined to respond to what he described as attacks directed at him, State attorneys should not be expected to endure similar treatment merely because they are public officers.
“Public officers ought not to endure abuse as the price for serving the State. They are entitled to perform their duties with dignity, and fearlessly and without threats, intimidation or harassment from politicians and their families,” Nandlall said.
“This continuous attack must end now. Public officers are hereby encouraged to take the necessary legal actions against these attacks and their executioners. Ms. Lall and Ms. Sargent have been advised to do likewise,” he added.
Nandlall also gave a sharply different account of what transpired during and following Thursday’s proceedings.
He alleged that on more than one occasion while he was addressing the High Court, the court had cause to admonish Bonita Mohamed over what he described as “loud and disrespectful outbursts,” and that her attorneys also cautioned her.
According to the Attorney General, after the hearing concluded, Bonita Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed directed personal attacks and insults at him, which he said he ignored.
Nandlall further said he was informed by Lall and Sargent that Hana Mohamed and Hadiyya Mohamed had been “inaudibly mouthing expletives” in their direction during his presentation to the court.
He alleged that following the adjournment, Bonita Mohamed and Hana Mohamed directed insults at both State attorneys.
According to Nandlall’s account, Sargent responded by saying, “we are simply doing our jobs,” after which Bonita Mohamed allegedly looked at her and spat.
The Attorney General described Hana Mohamed’s subsequent Facebook post as a “scathing, defamatory and scurrilous attack” on the two attorneys and said it had generated comments which further attacked their professional reputations.
Hana Mohamed, however, maintained in her post that it was the State attorneys who behaved improperly.
She alleged that the attorneys repeatedly glanced and pointed at her mother during the proceedings and continued to “laugh and mock” after the matter concluded.
“The High Court is not a place for mockery or intimidation. Such conduct is shameful, unbecoming of the legal profession and particularly unacceptable from attorneys representing the State,” Mohamed wrote.
Nandlall responded that the fact that the attorneys are paid from public funds does not remove their right to dignity, personal security and protection of their professional reputations.
