IN an ironic twist, the chairmen of both the ruling and Opposition parties have now made history, having been officially dragged before the courts on charges of corruption.

People’s National Movement (PNM) Chairman Franklin “Smiley” Khan turned himself in to the Port of Spain CID on Wednesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest the previous day.

United National Congress (UNC) Chairman Basdeo Panday was also slapped with corruption charges earlier this year following intensive investigations by the Integrity Commission and Fraud Squad.

It is alleged that Khan had corruptly received over $120,000 from PNM Councillor Dhansam Dhansook on six different occasions.

Khan appeared before a Port of Spain Magistrate at 8 a.m. on Wednesday where he was granted bail in the sum of $250,000.

Arriving in a police vehicle, Khan was snuck into the court through a basement entrance.

On leaving, he was quickly whisked away in a waiting Nissan X-Trail (PBU 653).

It could not be determined if the vehicle belonged to Khan.

PNM Chairman
FRANKLIN “Smiley”
KHAN leaves the
Port of Spain
Magistrates’ Court.

UNC Chairman
BASDEO PANDAY
waves to supporters.

In 2003, Panday was charged along with his wife, Oma, with failing to declare to the Integrity Commission a joint bank account between 1997, 1998 and 1999.

In May this year, Panday and his wife were again arrested along with former Minister of Works Carlos John and Chairman of Northern Construction Limited, Ishwar Galbaransingh, on more corrup-tion charges.

It is alleged that the former prime minister and his wife received $250,000 on December 30, 1998 from Galbaransingh after a contract was rewarded to his company for the Piarco Airport Development Project.

They were arrested on May 31, 2005.

Galbaransingh was placed on $1 million bail while John and the Pandays were placed on $750,000 each.

On June 7, Panday’s bail was reduced to $650,000 after many of his supporters including his estranged former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said that the amount was punitive.

Panday had refused bail and was kept for several days in Golden Grove Prison at Arouca. He accepted bail on June 8 after meeting a delegation from an inter-religious group.

In an immediate response from the UNC, Deputy Political Leader Wade Mark questioned the Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision to charge only one person for receiving bribes from Dhansook.

Mark compared Khan’s arrest with that of UNC Chairman Panday’s arrest last May.

Panday, who was UNC’s political leader at the time, was charged with failure to declare his assets. Mark, pointing at the DPP’s lack of haste in the Dhansook affair, accused government of a “massive cover up”.

“Panday was arrested two days after charges were laid.

“How come the DPP had a (report for more than a month in which recommendations were made) and not a word about what action he is going to take?” Mark asked.

Panday has since been elected unopposed chairman of the UNC with St. Augustine MP Winston Dookeran elected unopposed as political leader.

Incidentally, not a single PNM supporter was in sight when Khan entered or left the court.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning was in Malta attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting when the warrant was issued for Khan’s arrest. He could not be reached for comment.