Sharma back in town,

CHIEF JUSTICE Sat Sharma is back home from his visit to the Czech Republic. But he did not return yesterday as planned. He quietly slipped into the country on Saturday and remained at home resting yesterday.

He left for the Czech Republic on May 13 to attend a judicial conference in the midst of new allegations made against him, this time by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls.

During his absence from the country, police executed a search warrant at his chambers at the Hall of Justice last Friday and reportedly took away documents.

The search was witnessed by Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, judges and an attorney representing the Chief Justice.

When contacted yesterday, Sharma had very little to say. He said he spoke at the conference in the Czech Republic, but he had no comment to make on the search of his chambers during his absence from the country.

He did not say why he returned home on Saturday instead of yesterday.

The police who are investigating Mc Nicolls’ complaint were expecting Sharma yesterday.

Sharma was relaxing at home when Newsday caught up with him.

He did not want to speak about the latest controversy. He said he had already issued a statement on the issue.

In his statement to the police, Mc Nicolls alleged that the Chief Justice tried to influence him in giving a favourable verdict to former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday who was charged with three offences of failing to declare his London bank account to the Integrity Commission for the years 1997, 1998, and 1999.

The chief investigator to the allegation, Assistant Commis-sioner Wellington Virgil, has already interviewed Sharma. But the investigations have been stalled as Virgil is recuperating at home after he underwent minor surgery at the St Clair Medical Centre last week for a leg injury.

Virgil was released from the medical facility on Saturday and is expected to remain on sick leave for the rest of the week, although the officers who are assisting him continued with their inquiries yesterday.

This was the second time in 16 months that allegations were made against the Chief Justice. The first was in 2005 when Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson reported that Sharma tried to influence him with regard to the murder charge against prominent vascular surgeon Dr Vijay Narayn-singh.

As Prime Minister Patrick Manning began the process to begin impeachment proceedings against Sharma, the Chief Justice filed for judicial review of the decision of the President to establish a three-member tribunal to investigate him.

That case has remained in camera for months and was adjourned to June 13.