ATTORNEY General Reginald Armour, SC, says he was never given an opportunity to correct the record in the Miami courts, when he realised the extent of his involvement in the defence of his former client Brian Kuei Tung, in the local courts.

In a press advertisement on Monday, Armour gave a more detailed explanation of what went awry which ultimately led to him being disqualified as this country’s representative in the multi-million dollar civil asset forfeiture case in a Miami court, last month.

He insisted he never attempted to mislead the Miami court in any way when he spoke of his role in Kuei Tung’s defence, over a decade ago.

In an affidavit, in response to a motion by Kuei Tung to strike out the US lawsuit, AG Armour claimed he played a minimal role as the defendants’ lawyer in TT, which was limited to, “legal research and taking notes.”

The judge’s disqualification ruling is currently being appealed.

Armour first issued a statement on the matter on June 4 but days later, he maintained his silence. He said when he did so, it was because of ongoing proceedings in Miami.

Since then, he said, he has seen concerns raised by his colleagues in the legislature and the legal profession and considered these concerns legitimate enough for him to respond in greater detail, although still constrained by the ongoing appeal.

He also said he could not speak out on the matter because he had been “called away on urgent, unrelated government business,” for two days, last week.

'MY ROLE WAS MORE

THAN I RECALLED'

In an affidavit in response to a motion to strike out the US lawsuit, the AG claimed he played a minimal role as the defendant’s lawyer in Trinidad and Tobago, which was limited to “legal research and taking notes.”

He said when he gave the affidavit, there was nothing to be gained by downplaying his involvement in Kuei Tung’s defence since he had recused himself as TT’s representative in the Miami case and delegated that role to former AG, Faris Al-Rawi.

Armour, 65, was appointed AG on March 16 by the Prime Minister, replacing Al-Rawi who got the Local Government ministerial portfolio.

He said during his absence from TT, while on vacation with his family in Europe, he was asked to sign the affidavit for the US matter and, “given the urgency with which I was asked to sign,” and without access to a notary public, he was only able to sign and e-mail the affidavit to Al-Rawi (who at the time was acting as AG) on April 24 for transmission to the US lawyers, Sequor Law.

Armour insisted he accurately represented what he remembered of his involvement in Kuei Tung’s case in the affidavit.

But, he said, he later realised his involvement was “more than I had recalled.”

Armour said when he realised his role in Kuei Tung’s defence was “more extensive” than he previously remembered, he contacted acting AG Al-Rawi so he could file another affidavit to correct the record.

“I was confident that I