Dhanraj: ‘I’m a single parent’

Singh, who had urged the court to start the preliminary inquiry hearing on previous occasions, yesterday asked Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington to adjourn the case, in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court, so he could prepare his son, Rajiv, for the Secondary Examination Assessment in March.

"I’m a single parent," Singh told the magistrate, "And my son is writing SEA."

Singh is defending himself in the inquiry in which he faces a maximum penalty of a fine of $500,000 and ten years in prison. Singh is charged with corruptly soliciting and receiving an estimated $2 million from Oilfield and Marine Sales and Services Ltd and Petromar contractor Karamchand Rampersad.

The alleged offences occurred between May 31, 1999, and February 2000, while Singh was serving as a minister, and was the parliamentary representative for Pointe-a-Pierre.

Singh was charged under Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act — number 11 of 1987. Charges were laid by Senior Supt Wellington Virgil of the Fraud Squad Division.

Yesterday, State attorney Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds indicated that the prosecution was not ready to start the inquiry. Ramsumair-Hinds told Wellington that only one prosecution witness — a Justice of the Peace — was present, while virtual complainant, Rampersad, was not available. Snr Supt Virgil of the Anti-corruption Bureau was unwell, the State attorney told the court.

Magistrate Wellington, seemingly surprised by Singh’s position, asked, "I thought you were ready all the time?" The magistrate set April 6 for the inquiry to begin.