Corruption case against Panday:

THE STATE wants to go the route of a paper committal in the case brought against former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, former government minister Carlos John, and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh.

Panday and his wife are charged with corruptly receiving 25,000 pounds sterling from John and Galbaransingh.

John and Galbaransingh are charged with corruptly giving the money to the former PM and his wife.

When the matter was called before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of-Spain First Magis-trates’ Court, state attorney Sabrina Dougdeen informed the court that it is the intention of the prosecution to proceed by way of a paper committal.

Dougdeen said she had faxed this decision to the defence and suggested August 2 to start this case.

Sophia Chote, who appeared for John, said the fax was sent at 5.17 p.m on Monday when the working hours of her office had ended, and just before a public holiday.

Chote said the defence needed time to consider the sudden position of the prosecution.

The magistrate asked, “Does the defence have a choice in the matter?”

Chote said it was entirely inappropriate for the State to communicate with the defence after working hours and before a holiday.

“We were taken by surprise. The last time, the State said they intended to pursue the matter orally, but would revisit their position.

“Not having heard from them before the end of the working day on Monday, we felt the State was proceeding orally.”

Dougdeen apologised to the defence for the late submission of the fax.

She said it was only late last week that a decision was reached after consultation with lead prosecutor, Sir Timothy Cassel, QC, who was in Trinidad.

“Having considered the legislation and the nature of the evidence, we decided that we should go this route,” Dougdeen added.

The magistrate then invited the defence to file submissions with the court on the decision of the State to go the paper committal route.

The defence agreed to do so by the end of June and the case was adjourned to August 2, despite protestations from Ravi Rajcoomar that he would be out of the country on that date.