The trial of former Ministry of the Presidency, Permanent Secretary Omar Shariff, and his wife who were charged with failing to comply with a court order, continued yesterday with testimony by a police witness, who aided in arresting the defendants.
The charge against Shariff, and Savitri Hardeo, both of Dowding Street, Kitty, alleges that on or before October 14, 2016, at Georgetown, they failed to comply with a production order issued by Acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards after same was served by a marshal of the High Court to produce certain named documents, within seven days to Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James, who is the head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). It is alleged that they contravened the order without reasonable cause.
Trial Magistrate Fabayo Azore commenced the matter with evidence by Special Superintendent of Police Robert Tyndall, who is stationed at SOCU.
Superintendent Tyndall, under guidance by Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry, told the court that on October 6, 2016 he was shown a document which was a production order, signed by then Acting Chief Justice, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, requesting that the defendants comply with a list of items, from A to N, presented on the document.
He added that on October 7, 2016 he went to the High Court, along with Sergeant Roopnarine and Lance Corporal Persaud, where they met with Court Marshal Henry and proceeded to the home of the defendants.
At the defendants’ home, Tyndall stated that only Shariff was present, he added however, that he served the order on the defendant and gave a copy for the second accused. The court heard that the order stipulated that the defendants had seven days to comply, which, according to Tyndall was not done.
After observing the defendants’ non-compliance with the order, a reminder letter was drafted and later sent to the defendants.
On January 19, having received a fiat from the Director of Public Prosecutor the previous day, Tyndall noted that he went to the defendants’ home, arrested them and took them to SOCU Headquarters, where they were told of the offence and cautioned.
Subsequent to Tyndall’s testimony, he was subjected to cross-examination by the defendants’ attorney, Sanjeev Datadin.
Under cross-examination, Tyndall was asked if he could say with certainty that Hardeo received the production order. The officer responded that he would be unable to say if Hardeo received the document but knows that husband and wife are one, and if Shariff got the document, she got the document.
Cross-examination of Tyndall was later suspended and will continue on June 22.
