Opposition MP for Pointe-a-Pierre David Lee and businessman Hugh Leong Poi have made their first court appearance as co-accused after being implicated for allegedly conspiring to defraud the State of $1.4 million in motor vehicle taxes weeks ago.
Lee and Leong Poi, who were granted $1 million and $800,000 bail respectively, after being formally charged last month, appeared virtually before Chief Magistrate Maria Busby-Earle-Caddle yesterday afternoon.
During the brief hearing, Busby-Earle-Caddle read the charges to the duo and certified the station bail they had previously received from Justices of the Peace (JPs).
Lee and Leong Poi, who appeared from their respective lawyers’ offices, were not called upon to plead to the charges, which were laid indictably.
Lee and Leong Poi, who owns several businesses, including a firearm dealership, are jointly charged with conspiring together to deprive the State of tax revenue related to the importation of a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG valued at over $2 million.
Lee also faces a separate charge of misbehaviour in public office.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between March 24 and June 8, 2019.
Lee is accused of falsely claiming that the vehicle was his in order to claim tax exemptions entitled to him as an MP.
The taxes in the case include $293,094.02 in Value Added Tax (VAT), $298,650 in motor vehicle tax and $824,548.62 in customs duty.
Under their terms and conditions of employment, MPs are allowed periodic tax exemptions for motor vehicles but are required to pay the taxes if they seek to sell the vehicles within two years of claiming the exemptions.
During the hearing before Chief Magistrate Busby-Earle-Caddle, police prosecutor acting ASP Rajesh Lal stated that a State prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had to be appointed to prosecute the duo.
Asked by Busby-Earle-Caddle if the next case management hearing in the case should be fixed after the appointment is made, Lee’s lawyer Wayne Sturge said no.
“It takes many months for a prosecutor to be assigned. I don’t want to take that chance,” Sturge said.
Sturge also pointed out that the summary of evidence in the case was not disclosed by investigators as required.
Lal apologised for the delay and Senior Supt Wendell Lucas, of the Financial Investigation Branch (FIB), who led the investigation into the duo, sent the document electronically before the case was adjourned.
Lucas also promised to file and disclose the almost two dozen witness statements in the case by the next hearing.
“I would try my utmost best,” Lucas said.
After being charged with the offences by Lucas last month, Lee denied any wrongdoing, as he claimed he would be eventually vindicated by the courts.
The United National Congress (UNC) also issued a statement indicating that it would stand by him while he is before the court.
Lee was also represented by Alexia Romero, while Leong Poi was represented by Sophia Chote, SC, Samantha Ramsaran and Jose Young.
The duo is scheduled to reappear before Busby-Earle-Caddle on December 1.