Ramlogans’ attorneys batter Express ladies

If you are squeamish about seeing women being firmly put in their place, please look away now. Because those Trinidad Express ladies sure got what was coming to them.

Anika Gumbs-Sandiford apparently spent the last week tiptoeing around Attorney General Anand Ramlogan; an investigative reporter can never be too careful, after all.

It is not certain what Gumbs-Sandiford was up to and why she was targeting the AG. But the nosey reporter, who was a recent transfer window signing from the Trinidad Guardian, and her editor-in-chief, Omatie Lyder, came in for some hefty legal blows when Ramlogan found out.

Photo: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had no intention of letting Anika Gumbs-Sandiford or Omatie Lyder escape unscathed.
Photo: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had no intention of letting Anika Gumbs-Sandiford or Omatie Lyder escape unscathed.

“Ms Gumbs-Sandiford repeatedly stated that she knew that my client (Ramlogan) would beat her (his wife Nalini Ramlogan) while he was drunk and that she ‘was a victim of serious domestic violence and abuse’,” stated a letter that was allegedly sent by Pamela Elder SC to Lyder on 5 September 2013. “She also stated that the most recent act of domestic violence occurred some two weeks ago. Mrs Ramlogan vehemently denied the spurious and unfounded allegations…

“Your journalist thereafter… informed Ms Abdool that my client was having an affair with someone who was living on the said compound and that he would regularly drink and beat his wife…

“She further stated that my client was ‘a dangerous man’… and that her life was under threat as my client ‘could kill her’. Further, that (Mrs Ramlogan’s) body had bruises from constant beating occasioned at the hands of my client.”

Elder supposedly stated that the baseless and malicious allegations were met with “clear and cogent denials” and warned that publication of such scandalous allegations and falsities would result in legal action against the Express and Gumbs-Sandiford.

“I have my client’s firm instructions to take all such action as may be necessary to protect his good name,” stated the letter, “and prevent him from being brought into odium and disrepute.”

Photo: Trinidad Express' editor-in-chief Omatie Lyder and reporter Anika Gumbs-Sandiford took a legal battering from the AG last week.
Photo: Trinidad Express’ editor-in-chief Omatie Lyder and reporter Anika Gumbs-Sandiford took a legal battering from the AG last week.

Mr Live Wire, who endured his share of legal jousting, can only dream of one day being able to afford such a robust and skilled legal mind to ensure that nothing bad is ever published about him.

Two days later, Ramlogan’s wife dutifully followed her husband’s lead, according to a second letter published by the Express, and made much the same points.

“Ms Gumbs-Sandiford informed my client (Nalini Ramlogan) that she knew she was the victim of serious domestic violence and abuse,” stated a letter purportedly sent to the Express by attorney Jagdeo Singh, “and she stated that my client’s husband was in the habit of drinking and beating her. She stated that she knew that the incidents of domestic violence were ongoing and the last incident occurred some two weeks.

“My client stopped Ms Gumbs-Sandiford from making any further statements, told her that she was misinformed and asked her to leave the premises.”

Singh alleged that his client was “happily married” and supposedly ended his letter to the Express with the warning: “Please govern yourselves accordingly.”

Photo: Trinidad Express editor-in-chief and MATT assistant secretary Omatie Lyder.
Photo: Trinidad Express editor-in-chief and MATT assistant secretary Omatie Lyder.

It was a good weekend for lawyers and a right hook to the head for Express’ presumably naughty leading ladies. Beaten into submission, the Express had the good grace to pay homage to Ramlogan by publishing both legal letters. We will hear no more of this then.

Still, Mr Live Wire cannot help but wonder what story the Attorney General was so adamant about suppressing.

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About Mr. Live Wire

Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.

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12 comments

  1. Fragile when it comes to Dr Rowley. Taking us for fools

  2. i fear the unseen hand,please confirm my speculation is she a canidate for unc,or be a press officer

  3. Seems a lot to expect huh Kyon Esdelle

  4. I feel like I have to videotape my life now

    That way no case of he say she say

  5. You know you always have choices. If you feel uncomfortable after the first incident why not insist on a public meeting place for the next meetings? As my mother would say ” You should not go to a married man’s house by invitation without checking first if his wife was present”

  6. Should this pan out to be false, how can one so easily disregard principles of their profession to destroy a man who has personally done nothing to them? Is having a few million in your bank account worth the marring of your character and reputation. Guess money can buy anything including “respect”

  7. I should write an article about how to fob off unwanted attention from government officials for new and upcoming investigative reporters.

  8. She wasn’t scared when she stalked the AG and his wife for a story but the ‘scary black man’ who dusted a bee off her dress scared her
    #Rodnetcharlesnorowleycampaign

  9. Big money contract does make people soft?

  10. I must admit, the Express has won points on being clever..The said thing that the AG was trying hard to suppress from being printed and made public, still managed to reach the said public domain…Well done Express….lol

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