(Trinidad Express):
"A LAWYER who represents himself has a fool for a client. I prefer to have a fool for a client than a fool for a lawyer."
ASP Wellington Virgil, former Fraud Squad head, said Tuesday that Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday told him this when he visited his home to investigate allegations of Integrity Commission fraud.
Panday, 72, is before Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls at the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates' Court and Virgil was the state's third witness in the two days of his summary trial.
LAUGHTER IN THE COURT
When Panday's maxim was repeated by Virgil, the entire courtroom burst into laughter and when Virgil exited the witness box, Panday laughed and shook Virgil's hand after telling him, "Thanks for remembering my joke, I had forgotten it myself."
He was charged by Virgil with making false declarations to the commission for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 in his capacity of Prime Minister and had allegedly breached the Integrity in Public Life Act of 1987.
DEFENCE ATTORNEYS ARE CONTESTING
His defence attorneys are not contesting that he omitted in his declarations an account held jointly with his wife Oma at the National Westminster Bank at 16 Wimbledon Hill Road, London.
They are contesting though that the prosecution is malicious. During questioning by lead state prosecutor Timothy Cassel QC, Virgil told the court that on August 20, 2002, he went to Panday's 673 Ocean Avenue, Gulf View, San Fernando, home to interview him in regard to his investigations into the fraud allegations against Panday. Virgil said he cautioned Panday telling him that anything he said could be recorded and used against him in court and informed him of his right to an attorney, to which Panday made the earlier remark.
STATEMENT IN WRITING
Virgil said he showed Panday the replies Panday made to the commission and Panday said he was not the beneficial owner of the account in question and that he did not consider it part of his assets.
Virgil continued that after he asked Panday if he wanted to make a statement in writing, he said no, and added that he had said all he had to say to the Integrity Commission.
Panday asked him what offence he was investigating, Virgil said, to which he showed him the 1987 act and told him he had breached Section 27(1) of it. Panday took notes, Virgil said.
