Privy Council dismiss appeal

The Privy Council has dismissed an appeal brought by Trinidad and Tobago’s opposition leader, Basdeo Panday.



Mr. Panday was seeking to get the Privy Council to prevent a retrial on charges, that he knowingly made false declarations about his financial affairs, while he served as Prime Minister.



Panday said his lawyers would determine the next course of action. He had been accused of failing to declare his assets to the Integrity Commission for the years 1997 to 1999.



In 2006, the Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls convicted him of all three offences, and imposed the maximum sentences of two years imprisonment with hard labour on each count.



The court also imposed a fine of TT$20,000 with 3 years imprisonment in default of payment for each offence and payment to the state of more than TT$1 million.



A High court quashed Panday’s conviction on the grounds of apparent bias, ordering a retrial before a different magistrate.