2 weeks ago
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David Lee - THREE weeks after Housing Minister David Lee was rearrested and charged with conspiring to defraud the state of $1.4 million in motor vehicle taxes and misbehaviour in public office, an indictment is yet to be filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Lee, who is also Caroni Central MP, and firearms dealer Hugh Leong Poi, were rearrested on October 7, months after a magistrate dismissed fraud charges against them involving alleged abuse of a tax exemption for parliamentarians on a luxury vehicle.
A media release from the police confirmed that judicial warrants (judge’s warrants) were executed on October 7 against both men following instructions from DPP Roger Gaspard, SC.
The DPP’s application for the judge’s warrant was made under Section 23(5) of the Indictable Offences (Preliminary Enquiry) Act, which allows the prosecution to seek reinstatement of a dismissed matter after judicial review. The alleged offences occurred between March 24 and June 8, 2019.
Both men were granted bail on October 8 by Master Lisa Singh-Phillip. Neither man appeared at the hearing as both were still hospitalised at the time, but later posted bail after it was granted by the master. Bail was set at $1 million for Lee and $600,000 for Leong Poi, both with sureties.
Lee is accused of falsely claiming a vehicle was his to obtain tax exemptions available to MPs. The taxes in question include $293,094.02 in Value Added Tax, $298,650 in motor vehicle tax, and $824,548.62 in customs duty. MPs may receive tax exemptions for vehicles but must pay the taxes if they sell them within two years.
Both men are expected to appear in court after the DPP files the indictment. The Office of the DPP had been ordered by the court to notify the defence of the filing 24 hours before it is filed. Checks by Newsday on Wednesday, showed there was no indictment filed for the two.
Justice Hayden St. Clair-Douglas signed the judge’s warrants on October 6.
On April 7, acting Chief Magistrate Christine Charles upheld no-case submissions by defence attorneys, discharging both men of conspiracy to defraud the State of $1.4 million in taxes related to the importation of a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG valued at more than $2 million.
It is alleged that Lee falsely claimed the SUV was his to access parliamentary tax exemptions, depriving the state of hundreds of thousands in taxes and duties. Leong Poi is accused of conspiring with Lee.
Lee, who is also the deputy political leader of the UNC, has denied wrongdoing.
After his arrest on October 7, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said, “We have respect for the courts of the land. Minister Lee was acquitted of these allegations before. Now that the charges have been relaid, we have confidence in the courts to deliver a just result.” Lee remains Housing Minister.
The PNM expressed “deep concern” over the rearrests and urged Persad-Bissessar to clarify Lee’s cabinet status. PNM leader Pennelope Beckles noted that former UNC ministers Anand Ramlogan, SC, and Jack Warner were removed from office immediately upon their arrests under Persad-Bissessar’s previous administration.
“Due process and respect for the rule of law are cornerstones of our democracy,” the PNM statement said. “However, public confidence in the integrity of the Cabinet and governance must also be protected.”
English (US) ·