Valentino and his two wives

The best way to report this extraordinary case is in chronological order.

On September 29, 1998, Anita Seesahai of Felicity swore to information at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court and caused a warrant to be issued for the arrest of her ex-husband Valentino Seesahai for failing to pay maintenance money amounting to $11,280.

On July 19, 2000, Bissoondaye Samaroo, of Caroni Savannah Road, Charlieville, went to the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court purporting to be Anita. She swore as a witness on the Bhagavad Gita before Magistrate Avason Quinlan in the proceedings between Anita Seesahai and Valentino Seesahai in a matter involving maintenance.

According to State attorney Candia James, Samaroo wilfully made statements on oath which she knew to be false. She falsely declared that she had reconciled with Valentino and she no longer wanted to pursue the matter with respect to her husband’s maintenance arrears.

Quinlan then remitted the sum of $11,280 and cancelled the warrant against Valentino. Samaroo identified herself as the lawful wife of Valentino and declared that she had two children with him.

On July 20, 2000, Anita filed a report at the Chaguanas Police Station that she had not received money from the warrant executed on her ex-husband. Anita stated that she did not attend the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court the day before, nor did she give evidence that she did not wish to pursue the case against Valentino.

At about 5 pm that day, WPC Daniel approached Samaroo and identified herself. Samaroo informed the officer that her name was Anita Seesahai, and that she was the wife of Valentino Seesahai. In a statement to the police, she admitted that she had gone to the Chaguanas Magis-trates’ Court and cancelled the warrant against her husband.

Around 8.45 pm, in a second statement, she admitted her name was Bissoondaye Samaroo and not Anita Seesahai.

She said she went to the court at the behest of Valentino. The Justice of the Peace visited the station that night where Samaroo told him that she had lied to the police.

The police obtained a warrant and searched Samaroo’s home where they seized a birth certificate in the name of Bissoondaye Samaroo.

On July 24, 2000, Samaroo was placed on an identification parade where she was positively identified by two persons — Magistrate Quinlan and PC Joel Sheppard as the person who purported to be Anita Seesahai.

Samaroo said she had been in a common-law relationship with Valentino and that they had a four-year-old daughter. She said she had gone to the courthouse and saw Valentino in the holding cell.

Samaroo was then charged with perjury.

Valentino died one year after she was charged.

Yesterday, Samaroo, 52, pleaded guilty before Justice Anthony Carmona in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court. Her lawyer was former policeman Kenneth Thompson.

Thompson said Samaroo has a 22-year-old son, a nine-year-old daughter and was unemployed.

"She is extremely remorseful for what she has done," Thompson told the court.

Thompson said his client was very cooperative with the police. He said Samaroo’s relationship with Valentino was an abusive one, stretching from 1994 to when he died in 2001.

"There was an element of fear by the accused."

Carmona responded, "It was more a mixture of love and fear, a deadly mix. Why did she not get out of that relationship?"

Thompson: Whenever she tried, he threatened to kill her.

Carmona: The best way to describe him was a "Smartman lover called Valentino." Why was he not charged?

Thompson: Because of his demise.

Carmona: What she did (lie to the court) amounted to some form of bravery and not fear.

The judge then turned to Anita who was sitting in court. ‘When did your husband die?’

Anita said it was either 2001 or 2002.

Carmona: You seem indifferent to when he died?

Anita: Yes.

Thompson asked for a non-custodial sentence. Carmona said he could not sentence Samaroo right away. "By your act, you have seriously compromised the administration of justice. I will have to decide what to do with you.

"You will ponder overnight what you have done. Committing perjury is a serious offence, whatever the circumstances. This offence carries a maximum of seven years imprisonment."

He continued, "It is said that someone needs to hear the clanging of the gates of the prison to understand the magnitude of the offence."

The judge then remanded Samaroo to prison.

The final chapter will be written when Carmona sentences Sama-roo this morning.