The Sharma affair

FEBRUARY 16, 2005: Prime Minister Patrick Manning informs the Senate that he is investigating claims that Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma tried to get the charge against Vijay Naraynsingh dropped. The Prime Minister says he has received two complaints, one from Attorney General John Jeremie and another from Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson.

MARCH 5, 2005: The case against Naraynsingh is thrown out by Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington. A freed Naraynsingh tells reporters outside the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court that he is “concerned for Sharma”.

APRIL 2, 2005: Manning announces in Parliament that he has advised President George Maxwell Richards to set up a tribunal under Section 137 of the Constitution. These proceedings are later known as the first 137 proceedings or the “Naraynsingh 137 proceedings.”

APRIL 14 to 16, 2005: Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer grants Sharma leave for judicial review of the Prime Minister’s decision, effectively blocking the proceedings. President Richards defers to the ruling.

APRIL 24, 2006: Almost a year later, Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls sentences former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday to two year’s imprisonment for failing to declare a million-dollar bank account to the Integrity Commission.

MAY 5 to 10, 2006: Mc Nicolls complains that Sharma tried to influence him in the Panday trial. The Prime Minister summons Sharma to Whitehall.

MAY 8, 2006: Sharma writes to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, complaining that Mc Nicolls had made false allegations. The letter claims Jeremie had a role to play in a million-dollar land transaction involving a parcel of land owned by Mc Nicolls. Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer is appointed to investigate.

MAY 11, 2006: Jeremie says Mc Nicolls complained to him that Sharma tried to interfere with the case.

MAY 19 to 20, 2006: The police, led by Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, execute search warrants on Sharma’s offices, taking away documents.

JULY 11, 2006: Justice Judith Jones grants an injunction stopping criminal charges being brought against Sharma. The injunction blocks ACP Wellington Virgil from acting on charges laid by Deputy DPP Carla Brown-Antoine.

JULY 15, 2006: Sharma remains locked away in his Maraval home as police attempt to arrest him. The injunction granted by Jones is widened to block any police officer in the country from arresting Sharma. Sharma will later challenge the charges in court, all the way to the Privy Council.

JULY 27 to 28, 2006: Sharma puts aside judicial duties and is relieved from office by the President. Justice of Appeal Roger Hamel-Smith is appointed to act as CJ.

OCTOBER 27, 2006: The JLSC clears Mc Nicolls of misconduct in relation to the land transaction after receipt of the secret Stollmeyer Report.

NOVEMBER 30, 2006: The Privy Council rules against Sharma, clearing the way for his arrest. Sharma surrenders and is granted $250,000 bail in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court.

FEBRUARY 26, 2007: Criminal prosecution of Sharma begins, Mc Nicolls who had given written statements is summoned for cross-examination

MARCH 5, 2007: Exactly one year after Naraynsingh’s case is dropped, the criminal case against Sharma is dropped abruptly after Mc Nicolls refuses to testify.

MARCH 8, 2007: The JLSC appoints Justice Sebastian Ventour to investigate whether disciplinary charges should be brought against the Chief Magistrate for failing to testify.

MARCH 20, 2007: The Court of Appeal quashes Panday’s conviction on the basis of “apparent bias” on the part of Mc Nicolls.

MARCH 23, 2007: Sharma is re-instated as Chief Justice.

APRIL 11, 2007: Justice Ventour finds that Mc Nicolls’ refusal to testify “may have compromised the rule of law and the administration of justice.” At a meeting on April 24, the JLSC opts to defer suspension of Mc Nicolls because of his heavy case-load.

MAY 18, 2007: After advice from the Prime Minister, the President appoints a tribunal under Section 137 of the Constitution to investigate whether Sharma should be referred to the Privy Council for impeachment proceedings. This time around, Sharma does not block the proceedings, to be chaired by Lord Michael Mustill.

JUNE 13, 2007: For the second time in 11 months, Sharma is relieved of his duties, being suspended by Richards.

AUGUST 2, 2007: Mc Nicolls is charged by the JLSC for misconduct in relation to the collapsed criminal trial against Sharma.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2007: Section 137 tribunal proceedings begin.

DECEMBER 14, 2007: The tribunal signs off on its final report into the matter, finding no case against Sharma and does not recommend that the matter be referred to the Privy Council but highlights the failure of the AG to be cross-examined. The report highlights the failure.

DECEMBER 20, 2007: President Richards re-instates Sharma.

JANUARY 24, 2008: Sharma retires at the age of 65.

JUNE 11, 2008: After months of government rumours Manning tells staff at Trinidad and Tobago’s London High Commission that Jeremie has been appointed as UK High Commissioner to replace Glenda Morean-Phillips, herself also a former AG. Jeremie takes up his post in July.