Panday’s trial is March 20

Panday appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court for a hearing to fix a date for trial.

Appearing for Panday were Desmond Allum SC, Fyard Hosein SC, Rajiv Persad and Devesh Maharaj. Senior State attorney Wayne Rajbansie appeared for the State in the absence of British Queen’s Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel. Both sides agreed that the summary trial would start on March 20.

Panday, Leader of the Opposition, was charged by Assistant Commissioner Wellington Virgil on September 18, 2002, with failing to declare to the Integrity Commission his London bank accounts for 1997, 1998, and 1999, in accordance with the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000.

The go-ahead for the trial came when the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, on February 16, dismissed Panday’s application for leave to appeal a constitutional motion.

The petition was heard before Lords Hoffmann, Walker and Mance in London. The charges were laid against Panday on September 18, 2002. Panday appeared in court on November 29, 2002, where he pleaded not guilty. It was put to February 24, 2003, where it was agreed that the case would begin on April 9, 2003.

On that day, the defence raised certain constitutional points which were subsequently referred to the High Court by the Chief Magistrate. It was not until September 16, 2003, that the originating motion was filed in the High Court.

Madame Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee dismissed the motion on February 24, 2004. Three days before the matter was due to come before Mc Nicolls, the defence filed grounds of appeal with the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on September 19, 2005, and the case returned to Mc Nicolls on October 24.

The case was called last month when British Queen’s Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel indicated that he had two witnesses from the National Westminster Bank coming to Trinidad to testify. Cassel said the prosecution had just seven witnesses, and accused the defence of using delay tactics to avoid the start of the trial.