PANDAY
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC:
FORMER TRINIDAD and Tobago Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday, was preparing to spend last night in the remand yard of the Frederick Street Prison after he refused to accept a TT$750,000 (US$125,000) bail offer set by a magistrate yesterday.
Panday, who served as prime minister from 1995-2001, appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet charged with receiving the sum of £25,000 (US$41,600) in his bank account in December, 1998.
The charges stem from ongoing investigations into a London bank account owned by Panday and his wife, Oma, who yesterday was also assisting police with their investigations.
Police sources said that she would most likely face a charge similar to that of her husband's, as reporters gathered outside the courthouse in the capital, where the wife of the former prime minister was taken yesterday afternoon.
Earlier, Carlos John, who served as a minister in Panday's cabinet was released on TT$750, 000 (US$125,000) bail when he appeared before Magistrate Espinet on a charge of corruptly providing 25,000 pounds sterling (US$41,600) to Panday and his wife, Oma, on Christmas Eve in 1998.
His case has been adjourned to June 7.
Meanwhile, businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh, has also been slapped with a similar charge like John. Glabaransingh, who is already facing a number of charges related to the Piarco Airport Rehabilitation project undertaken during the Panday term in office, was released on TT$1 million (US$166,600) bail. The case has also been adjourned to June 7.
TO RUN UNC FROM JAIL
Before his arrest yesterday, Panday had been telling supporters and the media that he was prepared to run his opposition United National Congress (UNC) from the jail.
It is not known whether Panday would remain in the remand yard until June 7, when his next court date is scheduled, or whether he would accept the bail offer today.
Late last month, Panday's lawyers told the Appeal Court that their client was seeking to have the London-based Privy Council rule on his attempts to nullify the three criminal charges that had been laid against him in 2002.
The charges arise from the police ongoing investigations into a London bank account about which he failed to inform the Integrity Commission.
