An alleged gang leader, Rajaee Ali, has successfully complained about the fairness of his trial regarding a 2013 charge of having an illegal electricity connection and the subsequent three-month custodial sentence imposed in 2018 by a magistrate.
Ali, who is facing trial for the murder of former independent senator Dana Seetahal, SC, was given the three-month custodial sentence for illegally receiving $600 worth of electricity. However, Justices of Appeal Prakash Moosai and Gillian Lucky recently upheld Ali’s appeal and set aside his conviction and sentence.
Lucky delivered the oral ruling at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain, noting the peculiar circumstances of Ali’s case. She highlighted how Ali had been in solitary confinement for almost a year before his trial, affecting his ability to meet with his attorney and give instructions. Additionally, during the trial, Ali was forced to cross-examine prosecution witnesses in the absence of his attorney.
Several other complaints raised by Ali included inadequacies in the prosecution’s evidence and the magistrate’s oversight on certain factors, ultimately leading to the overturning of his conviction.
The magistrate had initially found Ali guilty after police discovered an illegal electricity connection at a house in Carapo in 2013. However, Ali’s complaints about the trial processes and evidence led to the decision to set aside his conviction.
Ali is also facing additional charges, including one for possession of a protected animal carcass outside the hunting season, and another for driving without insurance. Despite these legal challenges, Ali’s successful appeal highlights the importance of fair trial procedures.
