Rowley accuses AG of abusing FIU; not so, says Ramlogan

Opposition Leader Keith Rowley charged on Tuesday that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is abusing the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in order to access the confidential banking records of citizens who are not under suspicion of any wrongdoing.

Rowley also claimed that FIU director Susan Francois has been directed "to look the other way" with respect to business people who should be under scrutiny.

However, Ramlogan denied the claim. 

He told the Express newspaper the FIU only pursued the personal banking information of former executive director of the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) Calder Hart, and Rowley. 

And it happened under the watch of the previous government.

Ramlogan noted that in March 2010, his predecessor John Jeremie, alleged documents in his possession indicated that Rowley held a $6.5 million account at Alexandria Bancorp Ltd in the Cayman Island.

"These, as far as I am aware, are the only matters regarding requests for personal banking information in which the Ministry of the Attorney General is involved. 

"I have never, since my appointment, made any request to the FIU for banking information of any citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago," Ramlogan told the Express.

He accused Rowley of a bad habit of making wild, reckless and baseless allegations against him.

"His political frustration is a direct result of the historic civil fraud cases that have been filed against the hierarchy of the People's National Movement, and the re-emergence of the de-facto leader of the Opposition, Mr Patrick Manning," said Ramlogan.