Former
energy minister Eric William to wait on Khan's case
By Hayden Mills
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
10 08 06
FORMER energy minister Eric Williams will have to
wait until the latest corruption charge against
fellow former minister Franklin Khan is dealt with,
before his bribery matter is heard in court.
Williams,
of Luis Street, Woodbrook, reappeared before Senior
Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim yesterday at the Port
of Spain Fourth A Magistrates' Court.
He
is charged with unlawfully accepting $75,000 from
PNM Councillor Dansam Dhansook.
When
the matter was called, attorney Peter Taylor, who
held for Senior Counsel Desmond Allum, who is representing
Williams, applied for an adjournment, since Allum
was out of the country.
Lee
Kim, interested in the State's position, questioned
police prosecutor Sgt Roodal Harrilal with respect
to their position.
Harrilal
told her that he had not heard from the complainant,
Snr Supt Glenroy Woodley, head of the Fraud Squad,
and he had not had any word from the office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions.
Seconds
before, Lee Kim was about to adjourn the matter
due to "non representation by the State",
but as she noted it in her records, State attorney
George Busby walked into the court-room.
He
said he had discussions with Allum and they had
agreed not to have Williams's matter start before
Khan's.
When
she enquired when that may be, Busby told Lee Kim
that Khan's matter was fixed to go on in November.
When
she asked if Williams was a part of Khan's matter
and Busby told her no, she asked him why it was
necessary for Williams to wait. Busby said the evidence
was related.
Khan
reappears before First Court Magistrate Ejenny Espinet
today.
The
offence alleges that Khan tried to pervert the course
of public justice, in that, knowing that the Integrity
Commission was investigating claims of corruption
made by Dhansook against him, he arranged for Dhansook
to swear a false statutory declaration in which
Dhansook was required to deny that such claims were
true.
This
is the eleventh criminal charge Khan is currently
facing.
He
is also facing San Fernando Deputy Chief Magistrate
Mark Wellington, Siparia Magistrate Joanne O'Connor
and Rio Claro Magistrate Omar Jokhan, all for charged
in relation to the Dhansook matter.
Taylor
said he had no objection to an adjournment to December.
Lee
Kim pointed out that the matter was 10 months old
and Busby told her that the State understands the
court could not have Williams's matter indefinitely
postponed due to a matter which "does not affect
him".
Lee
Kim agreed to have the matter put to December 8
for mention.
Trinidad
Express
Friday, October 6th 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express . All Rights Reserved.
