Lutchman Sooknandan

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Lutchman Sooknandan (born 21 March 1948) is a

honorary consul in Belize.[1][2]

Career

Sooknandan came to Belize immediately after his law school graduation to work in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and remained in the country thereafter.[3] He first became DPP in 1992, serving until 1994.[4] He was appointed DPP again on 9 January 2007.[5] One high-profile case which Sooknandan had to take on early in his was the prosecution of politically connected suspect Chayben Abou-Nehra for the murder of Shawn Copius in 2005, which was marred by police refusal to arrest him along with the disappearance of key evidence from his file before Sooknandan took office, and ended with a declaration of nolle prosequi; Sooknandan himself described the police's conduct as creating "the most shameful miscarriage of justice" he had ever seen.[6][7] When questioned about his office's low conviction rate the following year, he laid the blame at the feet of the police's low investigative standards.[8]

In total, Sooknandan lasted less than a year and a half in the position, and resigned amidst controversy.

Kirk Anderson, who though having tenure resigned and returned to his native Jamaica with a settlement package of BZ$100,000.[3]

Personal life

Sooknandan grew up in

permanent resident status in Canada.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Embassies and Consulates". Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guyana to the United Nations. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  2. ^ "List of Attorneys" (PDF). United States Embassy in Belmopan City, Belize. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ a b c Ramos, Adele (2008-05-29). "Sook refutes Sedi". Amandala. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  4. ^ "Former DPP Says Anderson is Acting Immature". San Pedro Daily. 2006-08-18. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  5. ^ "Senate confirms DPP appointment, but still no contract". News 5 Belize. 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  6. ^ "DPP Defends Handling of Abou-Nehra Case". 7 News Belize. 2007-07-31. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  7. ^ Nembhard, Anita (2007-10-26). "'Worthless and wicked!'". Amandala. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  8. ^ "D.P.P. says low conviction rate is cops' fault". News 5 Belize. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  9. ^ Ramos, Adele (2008-05-23). "Former DPP, Sooknandan, got settlement package of $175,000". Amandala. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  10. ^ Ramos, Adele (2011-09-25). "Book Review: From Bengal to Bushlot to Belize". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  11. ^ Majeed, A. B. (2012-03-06). "Other Guyanese were appointed judges in the US". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  12. ^ "Roll Call of the Hugh Wooding Law School Graduates, 1976–1988" (PDF). Hugh Wooding Law School. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
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