Secretary tells police

Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday said yesterday he could not recall whether he paid a visit to Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma at his Hall of Justice office earlier this year.

This was his response to Sunday Newsday when asked yesterday to confirm or deny whether he visited Sharma’s third floor office.

Sunday Newsday obtained a copy of a statement given to the police by a secretary on the third floor of the Hall of Justice who stated that she saw Panday in the lobby being escorted to the staff lift by Sharma’s security.

Contacted by telephone yesterday Panday said he was not in a position to confirm or deny this report. “I have to check my diary,” he said. Asked whether he could not remember visiting the Chief Justice, Panday reiterated, “I will have to check the diary which is not with me.”

Panday who went to the World Cup in Germany is still out of the country.

The Chief Justice is under police investigation following a complaint by Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicholls in which Mc Nicholls alleged that Sharma tried to influence the decision in Panday’s recent trial. Panday’s trial for failing to declare a London bank account began on March 20.

The verdict was delivered by Mc Nicholls, who found Panday guilty on April 24 and sentenced him to two years in jail. Panday has appealed and is now out on bail.

The secretary categorically asserted that she saw Panday entering the staff lift, “10 am to 10.30” one morning earlier this year.

In her statement the secretary stated that she saw Panday, the Leader of the Opposition in the lobby area, with Sharma’s security waiting for the lift.

The lobby area is just outside of the Chief Justice’s office. She said she was surprised at Panday’s presence which she considered to be unusual and she said she drew it to the attention of one of her colleagues who also expressed surprise at seeing Panday in the lobby at the Hall of Justice.

The secretary said she also immediately informed her boss.

The secretary said she was certain that it was Panday because she had seen him a number of times both in person walking on the streets, as well as in the media and in vehicles and generally in the public. She said she would know him and would recognise him once she saw him.

The secretary, who said her eye-sight was fairly good, also confirmed that the lobby area in which Panday stood was well lit, illuminated by fluorescent bulbs. She said that as far as she could recall, on the day that she saw Panday, the illumination was good, thereby facilitating good visibility.

The offices of all seven Court of Appeal judges are on the third floor.

The issue of Panday being in the lobby of the CJ’s office is the latest in the ongoing police investigations into Mc Nicholls’ complaint.

Mc Nicholls complained to Prime Minister Patrick Manning that the CJ tried to influence the outcome of the Panday matter. Manning on May 11 referred the complaint to the Attorney General for appropriate action.

AG John Jeremie in turn immediately referred the matter to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions for urgent attention.

The police have been conducting inquiries including visits to Sharma’s office where they reportedly took away documents and interviewed Sharma in the presence of his attorney.

The Chief Justice has also complained to the Judicial and Legal Service Commission about Mc Nicholls and a land deal. Police investigations are continuing.

Last year following complaints from the Attorney General and the DPP that the CJ had attempted to interfere in the trial of Dr Vijay Naraynsingh who was charged for the murder of his second wife, Dr Chandra Narayn-singh. Manning wrote to the President calling for a tribunal to inquire into the matter. But Sharma immediately filed for judicial review blocking the investigation.