PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Apr 7, CMC – Acting Chief Magistrate, Christine Charles, Monday upheld a no case submission against the former leader of the Opposition Business in Parliament, saying that the prosecution’s evidence did not cross the threshold to send the matter to the High Court for trial.
David Lee, who will contest the April 28 general election on a ticket of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC) had been charged with misbehaviour in public office and conspiracy to defraud.
He was jointly charged with firearms dealer, Hugh Leong Poi, in September 2022 for allegedly conspiring to defraud the State of TT$1.4 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) in motor vehicle taxes.
Lee and Leong Poi were jointly charged with conspiring to deprive the State of tax revenue related to the importation of a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG valued at TT$2.3 million. The offences were alleged to have occurred between March 24 and June 8, 2019.
In addition to the misbehaviour charge, Lee was accused of falsely claiming the vehicle was his to claim tax exemptions entitled to him as a parliamentarian.
Under their terms and conditions of employment, parliamentarians are allowed periodic tax exemptions for vehicles but are required to pay the taxes if they seek to sell the vehicles within two years of claiming the exemptions.
“I give all thanks to God, the Almighty. I also want t give thanks to my family, my wife, my mother, who is 92 years old, some strong friends who have stood by my side for the last two and a half years, while this persecution took place” Lee told reporters after the verdict.
He praised his “brilliant lawyers” as well as UNC leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar “who stood at my side, she showed me what loyalty is and she knew I was innocent”.
Prime Minister Stuart Young, himself an attorney, told reporters while he has not been made aware of the circumstances that led to the matter being dismissed “the government which I led, we have no interaction with criminal charges, we are not the pesos who bring criminal charges.
“There is an office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that is a constitutionally independent office and I think that (questions) needs to be directed at the DPP. It certainly wasn’t anyone whom the PNM (People National Movement) government that charged Mr Lee.
“So I assume, whoever charged him had evidence they thought would support a charge. From my experience in the courts, it is for a court to determine…what happens with what is brought before it,” the Senior Counsel added.
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