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Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Trinidads Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday spent Tuesday night in jail, having refused to take bail after being charged with corruption. Also charged were his wife Oma Panday, former works minister under the UNC regime and CL Financial executive Carlos John, and Northern Construction Ltd (NCL) chairman Ishwar (Ish) Galbaransingh.
Panday was arrested by members of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB) at the Opposition Office at Charles Street, Port of Spain.Panday and his wife are each charged with corruptly receiving UK$25,000 or over $250,000 on December 30, 1998 from Galbaransingh and John in an account, to favour NCL in getting Construction Package 3 (CP 3) in the Piarco Airport Development Project (PADP).
Galbaransingh and John are charged with allegedly corruptly giving Panday and his wife over $250,000 on December 24, 1998 to favour NCL in CP 3. Panday, his wife and John were each allowed bail in the sum of $750,000 while Galbaransingh was issued bail in the sum of $1 million.
Smiling broadly, Panday arrived before Espinet and gave the thumb's up to the handful of supporters who had gathered in the court. It is not the first time that Panday has been to jail. He was arrested and jailed in 1975 while on a march to Port of Spain.
Panday was being kept at the State Prison, Frederick Street, Port of Spain
June 7 is Mr. Panday's next Court date. |
