Trinidad judge dismisses charges against former prime minister

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad’s former prime minister has been cleared of charges that he failed to declare the existence of a London-based bank account while in office.

Prosecutors had accused Basdeo Panday of not revealing the account they said held nearly $205,000 allegedly given by a local businessman as scholarship assistance for two of Panday’s four daughters.

Panday was originally found guilty in 2006 and sentenced to two years in prison, but a judge later declared a mistrial and said the government should have first created a committee to investigate the allegations before charging him. Panday served as prime minister from 1995 to 2001.

All senior government officials are obligated to declare their earnings annually to Trinidad’s Integrity Commission.