THE wife of a top United National Congress (UNC) politician reportedly has TT$5 million stashed away in a UK bank.

She is said to have two accounts -- one for 400,000 pounds sterling (TT$4 million) and another for 150,000 pounds (TT$1.5 million).

News of the two accounts recently surfaced when a former UK bank official visited Trinidad to meet with police officers.

Sources told TnT Mirror the monies were “bribes” given to her by several top businessmen when the UNC was in government.

The account was stumbled upon during a TnT police investigation into certain bribery and corruption allegations against UNC politicians.

The woman is sometimes referred to as “the Notorious Bag Woman.”

Mirror has learnt that the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) is in possession of information about the foreign bank account and the “mark will soon buss” just as when allegations were made that former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday had a $10 million London bank account during his term of office between 1995-2001.

The allegations hit the election platform during the 1991 general election which resulted in an 18-18 tie and the fall of the Panday regime.

Allegations of corruption have been plaguing the UNC, which resulted in the party being in Opposition today.

During Panday’s trial in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court a few months ago, for failing to declare his London bank account to the Integrity Commission, the prosecution alleged about $10 million had passed through his account over a period of time.

Panday was found guilty of the charge and jailed for two years and fined $20,000.

BRIAN KUEI
TUNG ... on
corruption
charges.

ISH
GALBARANSINGH
... also on
corruption
charges.

CARLOS JOHN

OMA PANDAY

He has since appealed his conviction and sentence.

During the trial it was also revealed that Panday’s wife was given a $1 million “gift” by business magnate Lawrence Duprey for the education of her two children.

Panday and wife Oma are also facing bribery charges.

Galbaransingh and former UNC Works Minister Carlos John are charged with corruptly giving 25,000 pounds sterling ($250,000) to the Pandays as an inducement or reward, while Panday and his wife were charged with corruptly receiving the money.

A number of UNC financiers, including Ish Galbaransingh, Steve Ferguson and former Ministers Brian Kuei Tung are now before the courts facing corruption charges arising out of the billion-dollar Piarco Airport project during the UNC’s sole term of office.

Former UNC Energy Minister Finbar Ganga is also facing charges of failing to declare his account to the Integrity Commission.

The State earlier this month flew in two witnesses from a London bank to give evidence in the preliminary inquiry.

However, the case was adjourned to January next year.