PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Appearing Chief Justice of the Peace Christine Charles, Monday upheld a no-case submission towards the previous chief of the Opposition Enterprise in Parliament, saying that the prosecution’s proof didn’t cross the brink to ship the matter to the Excessive Court docket for trial.
David Lee, who will contest the April 28 common election on a ticket of the principle opposition United Nationwide Congress (UNC), has been charged with misbehavior in public workplace and conspiracy to defraud.
David Lee
In September 2022, he was collectively charged with firearms seller Hugh Leong Poi for allegedly conspiring to defraud the State of TT$1.4 million (One TT greenback = US$0.16 cents) in motorized vehicle taxes.
Lee and Leong Poi have been collectively charged with conspiring to deprive the State of tax income for importing a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG valued at TT$2.3 million. The offences have been alleged between March 24 and June 8, 2019.
Along with the misbehavior cost, Lee was accused of falsely claiming the car was his to say tax exemptions entitled to him as a parliamentarian.
Below their phrases and situations of employment, parliamentarians are allowed periodic tax exemptions for autos. Nonetheless, they need to pay the taxes in the event that they search to promote the vehicles inside two years of claiming the exemptions.
“I give all because of God, the Almighty. I additionally wish to give because of my household, my spouse, my mom, who’s 92 years previous, some sturdy mates who’ve stood by my facet for the final two and a half years whereas this persecution befell,” Lee advised reporters after the decision.
He praised his “sensible legal professionals” and UNC chief Kamla Persad Bissessar, “who stood at my facet. She confirmed me what loyalty is, and she or he knew I used to be harmless.”
Prime Minister Stuart Younger, himself an lawyer, advised reporters that whereas he has not been made conscious of the circumstances that led to the matter being dismissed, “the federal government which I led has no interplay with felony prices; we aren’t the pesos who deliver felony prices.
“There’s an workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions that’s constitutionally impartial, and I feel that (questions) must be directed on the DPP. It actually wasn’t anybody whom the PNM (Folks Nationwide Motion) authorities charged Mr Lee.
“So I assume whoever charged him had proof they thought would assist a cost. From my expertise within the courts, it’s for a court docket to find out…what occurs with what’s introduced earlier than it,” the Senior Counsel added.
