Jagdeo Singh freed

Singh, the father of a four-year-old daughter, who has been in prison since November 29, 2001, walked out of the Maximum Security Prison shortly after seven o’clock last night. He was not met by his attorneys, but by a cousin, Donald Mohammed.

The late release of the lawyer took place after Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson wrote to Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier late yesterday informing him of the Privy Council’s decision.

Singh was not going to be released until this morning because the Commissioner of Prisons did not receive a copy of the Privy Council’s order. Newsday learnt that while certain lawyers had a copy of the document, the Registrar of the Supreme Court did not receive one.

Brian Debideen, one of the attorneys who visited Singh yesterday afternoon, confirmed last night that Singh was released after the intervention of the DPP. A smiling Singh emerged from the Maximum Security Prison at 7.05 pm, after four years and seven months behind bars.

Debideen, Stephen Singh, and Derek Ali, visited Singh at the Maximum Security Prison. When they emerged from the prison, Debideen said Singh was high in spirits and was ready to go home. He said Singh had already given away his stuff and was just waiting to be released.

The Privy Council wasted no time yesterday in quashing the conviction and ordering Singh’s release from prison.

On Wednesday, British Queen’s Counsel Edward Fitzgerald made submissions on Singh’s behalf. Yesterday, Peter Knox replied on behalf of the State. Fitzgerald made a brief response following which the judges retired.

They returned about 15 minutes later and Lord Bingham informed the parties that the appeal was allowed and the conviction quashed. However, they reserved their reasons which they plan to put in writing and deliver sometime in July.

Assisting Fitzgerald were Desmond Allum SC, James Edward Oury and Rajiv Persad, while Knox and John Almeida represented the State.

The appeal was being heard before the Board comprising Lords Bingham, Rodger, Brown, Lady Hale, and Sir Swinton-Thomas.

Singh appealed against the decision of the TT Court of Appeal (Chief Justice Sat Sharma, Justice Roger Hamel-Smith, and Justice Lionel Jones) dated November 15, 2002, dismissing his appeal against the conviction and sentence of seven years. Singh was jailed by Justice Stanley John in the Port-of-Spain High Court on November 29, 2001, after having been found guilty on two of three counts of corruption.