PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC ):
A VERDICT in the trial of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday could come as early as this week.
The trial, which started last week, will continue today with Panday's lawyers making closing submissions.
Panday was brought before the court for failing to declare his London bank account to the Integrity Commission, which is responsible for monitoring the conduct of parliamentarians.
LEAKS TO THE MEDIA
On Friday, Panday took the witness stand and stated that leaks to the media about the commission's enquiry into his London Nat West account, held jointly with his wife Oma, was responsible for him removing his name from the account.
This formed part of Panday's defence as he told the court why he did not declare the London bank account to the Integrity Commission. Panday said that by the time he found out about the media leaks, his 'political enemies' were already using the propaganda to their advantage.
Panday is represented by British defence attorney Allan Newman, Q.C. Assisting Newman are Senior Counsel Desmond Allum, Fyard Hosein Rajiv Persad, Devesh Maharaj and Anand Beharrylal.
In his defence, Panday said he wrote to the Wimbledon-based bank asking for removal of his name from the joint account, which he added was done to 'clear up' any ambiguities which had arisen from newspaper reports.
He said the summonses against him were issued on September 18, 2002 - a mere one month before the general election.
"I thought it was desperate and deliberate to win the elections," he said. "There was speculation that I was about to be charged."
