The Hindu : International : Basdeo Panday held on graft charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 02, 2005

International

International

Basdeo Panday held on graft charges

PORT OF SPAIN (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO): The former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Panday has been arrested by the country's Anti-Corruption Unit on graft charges to the tune of $2.5 billion connected to an airport contract. Mr. Panday, who had just met the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, was taken to the ACU office on Tuesday and was scheduled to appear before a magistrate to answer corruption and bribery charges. Similar charges have been laid against Carlos John, a member of Mr. Panday's Cabinet during his tenure as Prime Minister (1995-2001). A financer of Mr. Panday's United National Congress, Ishwar Galbaransingh, was also charged. Mr. Panday was the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the Caribbean nation. Two weeks ago, Chandresh Sharma, a member of the Opposition United National Congress, was suspended from Parliament until the end of the current parliamentary session in October for allegedly misleading the House. Meanwhile, the Indian delegation led by Mr. Chatterjee met Trinidad and Tobago President George Maxwell Richards and Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Tuesday. Matters of mutual concern to both countries are said to have been discussed at the meetings.

PTI

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