PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC:
EMBATTLED CHIEF Justice Satnarine Sharma has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Patrick Manning in the latest twist to the ongoing controversy involving the possible removal of the Chief Justice from office.
Sharma is contending that there had been bias on the part of Manning, who nearly two weeks ago, announced that he had asked President George Maxwell Richards to set up a tribunal to investigate whether there was sufficient evidence to warrant Sharma's removal from office.
ALLEGATIONS
At the core of the controversy are allegations that the Chief Justice sought to exert pressure on the Attorney-General, John Jeremie, and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson, in an attempt to induce them to drop a charge of murder against prominent vascular surgeon Professor Vijay Naraynsingh.
Naraynsingh had been charged with the murder of his second wife, Dr. Chandra Naraynsingh, who was gunned down outside her office, 10 years ago.
Last month, the surgeon was acquitted of the charge, but his third wife, Seeromani, and businessman Elton Ramasir, were committed to stand trial for the murder.
A team of high-powered lawyers, including Senior Counsel, Russell Martineau, Desmond Allum and Frank Solomon, are due to appear in court on Wednesday in a bid to prevent the formation of the tribunal pending the hearing and determination of the judicial review application.
Sharma has filed a 42-paragrapgh affidavit to support his lawsuit and Justice Stanley John of the Court of Appeal, has filed an 11-paragraph affidavit in his support.
In his lawsuit, the Chief Justice said that since his appointment in 2002, his relationship with Manning has been characterised by conflict and discord.
