Unconfirmed reports of an impending corruption arrest for a sitting Trinidad and Tobago magistrate have sparked a public defense from a team of high-profile local attorneys, who reject all allegations of impropriety and warn that undermining the judiciary poses a grave risk to the nation’s rule of law.
Local outlet *Trinidad Express* first broke the story exclusively yesterday, reporting that the unnamed judicial officer was set to be taken into custody over claims he accepted bribes in exchange for issuing favorable court rulings. While the outlet did not name the magistrate at the center of the claims, attorney Prakash Ramadhar called an urgent press conference at his San Fernando law chambers, with acting Chief Magistrate Brian Debideen in attendance alongside fellow attorneys Michael Rooplal and Vishan Girwar.
Ramadhar opened the conference by addressing the widespread speculation that has followed the *Express* report. Though no official name was published in the original article, Ramadhar confirmed that the allegations tie to a long-simmering public issue connected to specific rulings handled by Debideen. With nearly 40 years of legal practice in the country under his belt, Ramadhar argued that unsubstantiated rumors are too often framed as concrete evidence in Trinidad and Tobago’s public discourse, and false claims are frequently presented as proven fact. He stressed that the current government has prioritized restoring integrity, transparency and lawful process to public institutions, making the unproven tarnishing of a respected judicial officer especially unacceptable.
Ramadhar reaffirmed that the magistrate has upheld his judicial oath and committed no wrongdoing. He added that if formal charges are ultimately filed, the legal team will mount a vigorous defense on his behalf, and leave no stone unturned in clearing his name. “If any action is taken against him, we shall deal with that at that point in time….he will not go unattended,” Ramadhar said. “We will respond with all of our might to restore what is true and what is real…but we hope that the authorities and those who have power to make the decisions before errors are fallen into, will take a very robust approach in looking at what may be presented as potential facts.”
The veteran attorney also pushed back against the assumption that all criminal prosecutions are rooted in solid evidence and good-faith intentions. He cited high-profile past cases involving Naraynsingh, Dhanraj Singh and Sadiq Baksh to illustrate that many public allegations in the country lack merit. “Not every allegation in Trinidad and Tobago is there merit attached to it. It is the courts that we resort to, to fight these things; but when you attack the court, that is where the gravest danger is,” he added.
Fellow attorney Michael Rooplal then broke down the two specific cases at the center of the bribery claims, which date back between 15 months and a year, noting all court proceedings in these matters are part of the public record.
The first case involved an elderly lawful Firearm User’s Licence (FUL) holder who was charged with possession of excess ammunition. The defendant pleaded guilty when the matter was heard at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. After the prosecution recommended a non-custodial sentence and the defense presented mitigating arguments, the magistrate imposed a bond, which Rooplal emphasized is explicitly permitted under Trinidad and Tobago law. “The law specifically provides for such a penalty to be imposed on an individual in those circumstances and the magistrate in his lawful exercise of discretion imposed a bond. There is nothing, as far as we can tell, untoward, certainly from our past practice as criminal defence lawyers, in that being done,” Rooplal explained.
Rooplal also addressed a malicious WhatsApp rumor that began circulating after the 2025 ruling in this case, which has recently resurfaced. He confirmed the judiciary previously investigated the claims and issued an official statement confirming the social media content was entirely false, based on the official court recording of the proceedings.
The second case at the center of the allegations centers on a cash detention order under proceeds of crime legislation. Rooplal explained that at the first hearing, the magistrate ruled that the seized mixed currency of Trinidad and Tobago dollars and U.S. dollars would remain in detention, in line with prosecution requests. At a subsequent hearing, after evidence was presented and cross-examination concluded, the prosecution conceded there were no legal grounds to continue holding the local currency, and the magistrate ordered its release. The U.S. currency was ordered held for an additional three months, before a subsequent magistrate ordered its full release. Rooplal confirmed that every ruling issued by Debideen in this matter aligned strictly with the law and followed prosecution submissions.
Rooplal noted that rampant, unregulated speculation on social media has spun out of control in recent weeks, with unconfirmed names being circulated and baseless conspiracy theories spreading widely. The press conference, he explained, was called to allow the magistrate to present his side of the story publicly before any formal action is taken, given that the allegations clearly tie to the matters he adjudicated.