Dhanraj back in court

FORMER Local Government Minister Dhanraj Singh, who was freed of a murder charge last year, appeared before a San Fernando magistrate and declared he was ready to proceed in a case in which he is charged with 27 counts of corruption. Singh, who said he would represent himself in the matter, expressed hope that it would start soon. He went before acting deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the First Court. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, is the lead prosecutor in the case. Singh sat in court and casually chatted with attorney Subhas Panday before the matter was called.

When he was called before the magistrate, Singh said: “I am representing myself and Sir,  I am ready to proceed, this case has been here for three years now.” He asked for the case to begin next week, but Magistrate Wellington said several other matters had started and Singh’s request could not be accommodated. Singh then asked for disclosure of statements given by witnesses in the case, to which Magistrate Wellington replied: “You can’t. You are not entitled to that. What you are entitled to would be statements of witnesses which are favourable to yourself.” Singh surrendered at Police Headquarters on January 17, 2001, after returning from New York. 

He was charged by Snr Supt Virgil on 27 counts of soliciting and corruptly receiving over $1 million from contractor Karamchand Rampersad  at San Fernando, Marabella, Gasparillo, Couva and La Romaine. When he appeared before Magistrate Deborah Thomas Felix in the Port-of-Spain  Magistrates’ Court, Singh was granted $150,000 bail to cover all charges and the matter was transferred to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. At that time, Singh was represented by attorneys Shastri Persad, Prakash Ramadhar and Larry Lalla. Last October Singh was freed of the charge of murdering former Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, Hansraj Sumairsingh. The corruption case against Singh was adjourned to June 7.