By Staff Writer
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Oct 8, CMC – Prime Minister Kamla Persad says she remains confident that the courts will “deliver a just result” with respect to her Housing Minister, Dr. David Lee, who, along with a businessman, had been taken into custody by police on Tuesday.
“We have respect for the courts of the land. Minister Lee was acquitted of these allegations before. Now that the charges have been re-laid, we have confidence in the courts to deliver a just result,” she said in a brief statement.
On Tuesday, the police said that judicial warrants had been issued for the “apprehension” of Lee and businessman Hugh Leong Poi.
The statement gave no details why the warrants were issued, but added that “in accordance with the legal mandate and without delay, both individuals were taken into custody by officers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and are presently undergoing standard processing procedures.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service remains committed to upholding the rule of law and executing all judicial instructions with integrity, impartiality, and procedural rigour,” the statement said.
Opposition Leader, Pennelope Beckles, has called on Prime Minister Persad Bissessar to immediately inform the country whether Lee will continue to serve as a minister of the Government while facing criminal charges.
“The PNM is calling on the Prime Minister to act in accordance with established protocols, in the face of the issuance of an arrest warrant for Dr Lee. Public trust and confidence in the integrity of the Cabinet must be protected. Leadership demands accountability,” the party said in a release signed by Beckles.
“Due process and respect for the rule of law are cornerstones of our democracy, and every citizen is entitled to a fair trial before the courts. However, public confidence in the integrity of the Cabinet and the governance of Trinidad and Tobago must also be protected,” said Beckles, who is also an attorney.
She recalled that when former attorney general Anand Ramlogan SC and former national security minister Jack Warner were both arrested while serving in previous Persad Bissessar-led governments, they were immediately removed from office.
Before the April 28 general election, Lee was cleared of fraud charges related to tax exemptions on his vehicle as a parliamentarian.
Acting Chief Magistrate Christine Charles dismissed the charges of conspiracy to defraud and misbehaviour in public office after upholding a no-case submission presented by Lee’s legal team, led by Wayne Sturge and Mario Merritt.
The magistrate ruled that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence to sustain the charges or proceed to trial. She also acquitted Leong Poi of Sport Outlet Limited, who faced a joint charge with Lee for conspiracy to defraud.
In September 2022, authorities accused the pair of conspiring to defraud the state of TT$1.4 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) in tax revenue related to the importation of a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, valued at over two million dollars.
The charges involved TT$293,094.02 in Value Added Tax (VAT), TT$298,650 in motor vehicle tax, and TT$824,548.62 in customs duty.
Prosecutors had alleged that Lee falsely claimed ownership of the vehicle to benefit from tax exemptions granted to MPs. The alleged offences occurred between 24 March and 8 June 2019.
Meanwhile, Lee remained under the care of medical professionals at the Port of Spain General Hospital on Tuesday night after complaining of feeling unwell following his arrest.
The Trinidad Express newspaper reported Wednesday that shortly after his arrest, Lee complained of feeling unwell and was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital, after he had what may have been a panic attack.
CMC/pr/ir/2025