Magistrate to announce decision on Panday case on June 26

File: Former PM Basdeo Panday with his daughter, Former Oropouche West MP Mickela Panday

Magistrate Marcia Murray will state on June 26 whether she will stop the trial of former prime minister Basdeo Panday to allow Panday to challenge her decision that he has a case to answer.

Panday is charged with failing to declare to the Integrity Commission a London bank account that he held with his spouse, Oma, for the years 1997-1999.

On Thursday the magistrate dismissed a no-case submission made by one of Panday's attorneys, British Queen's Counsel David Aaronberg.

On Friday Aaronberg told Murray she must not ignore that fact that political interference led to Panday's arrest and subsequent trial.

Aaronberg ssaid Panday will not get a fair trial and he again submitted that the case against Panday is tantamount to an abuse of process. He told the magistrate the matter should be halted until the defence appeals Murray's decision.

Special State prosecutor Sir Timothy Cassel QC denied that there was any political motivation in bringing Panday to trial.

He acknowledged that Panday is the first person to be tried under the Integrity in Public Life Act of 1987. However he said it is not a sign of inequality as "someone has to be the first".

Cassel added that there was no political interference in the prosecution of Panday as it was civil servants, not any political figure, who ordered the charges to be laid.