US Seeks Return of T&T National

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan signed a WARRANT OF COMMITTAL (By Consent) which was presented before the Chief Magistrate Ms. Marcia Ayers-Caesar by the Central Authority for the Extradition of Shazam Meighoo, a national of Trinidad and Tobago on Monday 8th December, 2014. This stands as another victory for the Attorney General and the Central Authority in the ongoing partnership with their international counterparts in the fight against crime.

Meighoo is alleged to have committed the offences of Murder in the first degree, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose against the laws of the United States of America. Meighoo is alleged to have committed these offences on June 20th 2012, in the County of Essex, New Jersey, United States of America, before fleeing to Trinidad and Tobago.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, upon being advised by the Central Authority that it had received a request from the United States of America for the extradition of Shazam Meighoo, signed the Authority to Proceed on October 1st 2014 which triggered the extradition process. Cpl John of the Interpol Bureau swore to and obtained the Warrant of Arrest from the Court.

Meighoo was arrested by Interpol Police Officers on November 27th 2014 at Kelly Village Caroni and brought before the Chief Magistrate sitting in the Port of Spain Eight Magistrate Court. Attorneys-at-Law Netram Kowlessar Head of the Central Authority Unit together with Nisha Persad, led by Pamela Elder SC, appeared for the Requesting State, the United States of America whilst Alexia Romero appeared for Meighoo. Meighoo consented to being extradited to the United States of America before Chief Magistrate Maricia Ayers-Casear and the matter was adjourned to December 8th 2014.

The Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers- Caesar took evidence from Meighoo, read the Warrant of Committal by Consent to him and committed him to the State Prison pending his removal to the United States of America to face the charges against him.

The Attorney General is committed to working with law enforcement agencies in the Caribbean and other international bodies to confront and fight the scourge of crime.

The Central Authority has been very successful in extraditing a number of prominent wanted persons in recent times including Amarnath Jagmohan who was extradited to Singapore on May 31st 2014 to face fraud charges of four counts of uttering a forged document and one count of possession of counterfeit currency.

Keron Pierre was also extradited to the United States on August 23rd, 2013 to face charges relating to a triple homicide and attempted murder.

Doreen Alexander, a Trinidadian national, was also extradited to the United States on March 31st, 2013 to face charges relating to the kidnapping and murder of Balram “Balo” Maharaj. Alexander pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit hostage taking and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for her role in the kidnapping. Alexander was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release to follow her prison term.

In February 2012, Gary Govindass was extradited to the United States to face charges relating to the kidnapping of Vedesh Mohan. On 5th August 2013, Govindass pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit hostage taking. The extradition process relating to his alleged co-conspirator, Hassan Atwell is currently underway.

Further, Andy Nelson was successfully extradited to the United Kingdom on the September 14th, 2012 to face two charges for conspiracy to supply and import cocaine. On the February 1st, 2013 Nelson pleaded guilty to both charges.

Dated: Wednesday 10th December, 2014
MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO