Ramgoolam Legal Team Seeks Dismissal of Charges After 11 Years of Court Delays

The legal team for Navin Ramgoolam has announced its intention to file a motion to strike out all charges in the long-running "coffers" case, citing a decade of delays. The surprise move was confirmed on 15 January by defence counsel Me Robin Ramburn before the Financial Crimes Division of the Intermediate Court. The defence is seeking a total radiation of charges based on what they term an "abuse of process."

Eleven Years Without Resolution

Central to the defence's argument is the significant passage of time since the initial proceedings began. Me Ramburn highlighted that nearly 11 years have passed since Mr. Ramgoolam's arrest, yet the case remains without a definitive conclusion. To support the motion, the defence team has outlined 15 specific points of contention.

Key Details of the Motion

The upcoming legal battle is expected to feature high-level representation and a robust challenge from the state:

• International Counsel: A King's Counsel is set to join the defence team specifically to argue the merits of the abuse of process motion.
• Prosecution Stance: The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has already indicated its formal intention to oppose the motion.
• Court Timeline: The court has scheduled three days of debates to hear the arguments, set for 30 March, 1 April, and 2 April.

"Nearly eleven years have elapsed since the arrest... and there is still no outcome in this case." — Me Robin Ramburn