Former Attorney General distances self from former bodyguard implicated in Crum-Ewing’s murder

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2015, 17:25 by GxMedia

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Thursday distanced himself from a former bodyguard who is being questioned by police in connection with the gunning down of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing.

Nandlall said Rajput Narine was hired about five days after Crum-Ewing was shot dead on March 10, 2015 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.  The prominent Attorney-at-Law said  Narine was then let go four days after because he was dissatisfied with his performance including revealing his whereabouts to persons unknown on the telephone.

“I hope I have clearly demonstrated that I only came into contact with Rajput Narine after the death of Courtney Crum-Ewing. I take this opportunity to deny any involvement whatsoever in that incident and to say that there is obviously an attempt to implicate me and the PPP in this horrendous act as part of a political design,” said Nandlall, adding that he hoped that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

After sending home the bodyguard, Nandlall said he informed the Police Commissioner and requested two members of the police force.

Nandlall said prior to Narine’s recruitment and after relief of his duties he had never known that employee of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and former member of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU).

Asked whether Narine was ever seen at Freedom House- the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) headquarters- in the same way that self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds had been seen, Nandlall said he was not aware. “I can’t remember seeing him afterwards,” he said.

The former top legal adviser to the then PPPC government prior to its defeat two months ago said he hired Narine based on the advice of a United States-based Guyanese, Anter Narine, during then President Donald Ramotar’s visit on March 12, 2015. “As we were chatting, the Crum-Ewing issue came up and I told him that I was advised to hire a personal security upon my return I intend to do so,” said Nandlall.

The fomer Attorney General said Anter recommended that Rajput be hired because he was a licensed firearm holder and “was someone whom I could trust”