TheLight
10-30-2007, 11:08 PM
Watch your back Dhansook.....they will make you forget :!:
“I am scared out of my wits to
give evidence at this time.”
—Dansam Dhansook
In fear
Dhansook says he fears for his life, testifying just before Monday’s general election.
Prosecutor claims “new and unprecedented level of pre-election violence.”
Magistrate says “I’m sorry, but I’m not convinced.”
BY INDARJIT SEURAJ
PNM Councillor and state witness Dansam Dhansook has expressed concerns for the safety of his life and family, after claiming he received death threats surrounding his testimony against former energy minister Eric Williams.
When called to testify against Williams in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Dhansook, who has been given immunity in exchange for his testimony, asked that his evidence be deferred until after the general election on Monday.
Williams, of Luis Street in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, and former MP for Port-of-Spain South, is accused of accepting $75,000 from Dhansook in 2003 as bribes for a seismic contract in Point Galeota.
“I am scared out of my wits to give evidence at this time,” Dhansook told the court after taking the witness stand.
The preliminary inquiry began in the Fourth (A) Court, with Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan hearing the evidence.
“I am willing to give evidence, but not at this time...I am standing on my statement,” Dhansook said.
“I may forget pieces of evidence which may cause the case to go either way...I need to have a clear frame of mind.”
Dhansook said his fears have now been heightened especially with the recent spate of violence against political campaigners.
Lead prosecutor Peter Thornton, QC, joined in the witness’ concerns and drew example from the recent attack on Congress of the People candidate David Sinclair, who was beaten in full view of his supporters at his constituency office last Saturday.
Thornton said Dhansook’s fears were reasonable especially in a “new and unprecedented level of pre-election violence.”
“The fears of Mr Dhansook are reasonable and he is reasonable in all circumstances,” he said.
“He is a PNM councillor testifying against an ex-PNM minister...His fears are not unreasonable.”
Magistrate: I’m not convinced
But Cardenas-Ragoonanan said she could not accept the excuse given by the witness as there was no “nexus” between his fears and the November 5 polls.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not convinced by it,” she said.
The magistrate also called on the prosecution to question the “credit-worthiness” of the witness as he failed to mention any threats made against him when he was first called to the stand yesterday morning.
Lead defence attorney Desmond Allum, SC, objected to the request for an adjournment, arguing that Police Commissioner Trevor Paul assured political parties that the recent acts of violence were not politically-motivated.
He added that his client, too, had been suffering “untold hardship” since he was charged 20 months ago, having resigned his post as energy minister and having turned unemployable because of his tarnished reputation.
Arguments continue today.
Thornton leads George Busby, while Rajiv Persad and John Heath appears for Williams.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news10.html
“I am scared out of my wits to
give evidence at this time.”
—Dansam Dhansook
In fear
Dhansook says he fears for his life, testifying just before Monday’s general election.
Prosecutor claims “new and unprecedented level of pre-election violence.”
Magistrate says “I’m sorry, but I’m not convinced.”
BY INDARJIT SEURAJ
PNM Councillor and state witness Dansam Dhansook has expressed concerns for the safety of his life and family, after claiming he received death threats surrounding his testimony against former energy minister Eric Williams.
When called to testify against Williams in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Dhansook, who has been given immunity in exchange for his testimony, asked that his evidence be deferred until after the general election on Monday.
Williams, of Luis Street in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, and former MP for Port-of-Spain South, is accused of accepting $75,000 from Dhansook in 2003 as bribes for a seismic contract in Point Galeota.
“I am scared out of my wits to give evidence at this time,” Dhansook told the court after taking the witness stand.
The preliminary inquiry began in the Fourth (A) Court, with Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan hearing the evidence.
“I am willing to give evidence, but not at this time...I am standing on my statement,” Dhansook said.
“I may forget pieces of evidence which may cause the case to go either way...I need to have a clear frame of mind.”
Dhansook said his fears have now been heightened especially with the recent spate of violence against political campaigners.
Lead prosecutor Peter Thornton, QC, joined in the witness’ concerns and drew example from the recent attack on Congress of the People candidate David Sinclair, who was beaten in full view of his supporters at his constituency office last Saturday.
Thornton said Dhansook’s fears were reasonable especially in a “new and unprecedented level of pre-election violence.”
“The fears of Mr Dhansook are reasonable and he is reasonable in all circumstances,” he said.
“He is a PNM councillor testifying against an ex-PNM minister...His fears are not unreasonable.”
Magistrate: I’m not convinced
But Cardenas-Ragoonanan said she could not accept the excuse given by the witness as there was no “nexus” between his fears and the November 5 polls.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not convinced by it,” she said.
The magistrate also called on the prosecution to question the “credit-worthiness” of the witness as he failed to mention any threats made against him when he was first called to the stand yesterday morning.
Lead defence attorney Desmond Allum, SC, objected to the request for an adjournment, arguing that Police Commissioner Trevor Paul assured political parties that the recent acts of violence were not politically-motivated.
He added that his client, too, had been suffering “untold hardship” since he was charged 20 months ago, having resigned his post as energy minister and having turned unemployable because of his tarnished reputation.
Arguments continue today.
Thornton leads George Busby, while Rajiv Persad and John Heath appears for Williams.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news10.html