Richardson was no drug dealer or thief: Smart

Former Attorney General Anthony Smart on Tuesday told the commission probing the failed 1990 Muslimeen coup former National Security Minister Selwyn Richardson was neither a drug dealer nor a thief.

Former Muslimeen Jamal Shabaaz accused Richardson of being involved in a drug coverup. He made the statements during testimony before the commission.

Read the story: Shabaaz tells coup probe NAR ministers were involved in illicit drug trade

Smart and Richardson were members of the Robinson National Alliance for reconstruction (NAR) administration. He said he worked for a firm that handled Richardson's estate following Richardsoin's murder.

He confirmed that Richardson's total savings at the time of his death amounted to just $23,000.

"Mr Richardson was no drug dealer and it is unfortunate that that rumour has taken root in the society," Smart told commissioners.

Smart said after the testimony from Shabazz Richardson's widow called him to give an assurance that her late husband was no drug dealer.

"I can tell you, based my own experience of Selwyn Richardson, Selwyn Richardson may be a number of things but he was not a cocaine dealer," Smart said.