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News from the Caribbean as of
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Trinidad opposition leader found guilty of financial impropriety
Monday, April 24, 2006
by Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's former Prime Minister, and sitting Opposition leader, Basdeo Panday has been found guilty by a Trinidad court for failing to declare monies held in a London bank account.
The ruling was handed down shortly after 10 am on Monday by Port of Spain Magistrate, Shermon McNicolls at the city district court.
The former Prime Minister has been found guilty of failing to declare income and assets for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, contrary to the country's Integrity in Public Life Act of 1987. It is the first time in the country's history that a Prime Minister has been found guilty of such charges.
The court heard that the former Prime Minister failed to declare to the island's Integrity Commission millions of dollars held in an account in London in his and his wife's name, Oma Panday. He was found guilty of all three offences committed on three separate occasions while he was Prime Minister.
Panday was given three years hard labour but will only serve two years as his sentence is to run concurrently. He has also been fined TT$20,000 on each of the three offences. Added to this Panday is to pay the state TT$1.5 million dollars.
There was a heavy police presence at the Port of Spain magistrates' court on Monday as the opposition leader was brought in.
Speaking with reporters before the ruling, Panday said he was willing to abide by the court's decision. "The day we lose respect for the law the society will degenerate into anarchy and chaos. I am prepared as one can be, that is to respect the law, and to respect the courts," he said.
As the decision was handed down, tears flowed from the eyes of one of Panday's daughters, who was at the court. A similar scene was also evident among other family members and party supporters.
Meanwhile, following the court ruling Panday's lawyers said they will immediately mount an appeal against the judgment.
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