Poisoned dart at Panday

In his final address to the court, Newman added:

“The whole of Mr Panday’s political career has been a lifelong struggle to achieve social and racial equality. Trinidad and Tobago is a red-hot crucible containing a potent multi-racial brew, where too many people adopt entrenched racial divisions. Mr Panday has always believed there is only one positive way forward for the country which he loves, and that is seeking to achieve national unity. This has been the lifelong vision of Mr Panday to which he has been deeply committed. His unstinting social commitment is at the core of Mr Panday’s character.

“The complaints against Mr Panday were laid before the court on September 18, 2002. That was one month before the general election in October 2002, and right in the middle of the most critical election campaign in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. Do you believe, sir, that such conduct was mere coincidence, or do you believe that it was a poisoned dart deliberately aimed at the political heart of Mr Panday? Does not the orchestrated leaking of every twist and turn of the Integrity Commission investigation, at an equally sensitive political time in the months leading up to the election, speak volumes?

“The leaking by a person or persons in the Integrity Commission was both criminal and unfair, involving grossly exaggerated allegations of up to $10 million having been salted away by Mr Panday. This has caused him much pain, anguish and humiliation, as it was obviously intended to do. The evidence produced in this court demonstrates a very different picture.

“Firstly, the evidence has shown that the account in its entirety was run by Mrs Panday alone.

“Secondly, the evidence has shown that the children’s scholarship money was provided in the context of threats to the lives of their children, as a result of which Mr and Mrs Panday were advised to educate their children abroad.

“Thirdly, it has shown that the other sums paid by Mrs Panday into that account totalled, not $10 million, but around 43,000 pounds sterling over four years, and the innocent source of those comparatively modest sums of money has been outlined.

“You have heard Mr Panday. His actions over many years speak louder than words and shout out his innocence of these shabby charges. Even after this case is over, the relentless pursuit of Mr Panday continues. But we say that it is time to end this part of the witch hunt, and we ask you resoundingly to find Mr Panday not guilty.