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News from the Caribbean as of
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Trinidad's former Prime Minister released on bail
Monday, May 1, 2006
by Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday, who has been sentenced for two years hard labour for breach of the country's Integrity in Public Life Act, has been granted bail in the sum of TT$300,000 pending appeal.
Panday was sentenced last week by Port of Spain Chief Magistrate, Shermon McNicolls, for failing to declare monies held in a London bank account.
Panday was released shortly after 5 pm on Friday from the maximum security prison in Arouca, east Trinidad. The bail was agreed to by a Port of Spain High Court judge, Justice Anthony Carmona.
Application for bail was accepted on the grounds of Panday's health. The court heard testimony by the former Prime Minister's doctor, who stated that the veteran politician had a serious heart condition and that for him to endure the rigours of prison life would be to shorten the life of his patient.
The court also heard that to have allowed Panday to stay in jail while his application for a review of the case was still pending was tantamount to the state pronouncing a death sentence on the former Prime Minister.
Justice Carmona later agreed that Panday be released, considering that he was also not a flight risk.
Panday 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 former Prime Minister has been found guilty of such charges.
A fine of TT$20,000 was imposed on each of the three offences. Panday was also ordered to pay the state over TT$1.5 million.
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