LONDON, CMC:

The London-based Privy Council yesterday unanimously ruled against the embattled Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma, paving the way for his arrest on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of public justice.

The ruling by the five Law Lords had been eagerly awaited in the Caribbean island that regarded the judgment as one of the most important in its history.

The Privy Council had reserved its judgment eight weeks after hearing the matter.

Pending judicial review

Sharma, accused by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls of trying to influence his judgment in the trial of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, had been granted an ex-parte injunction preventing any member of the 7,000-strong Trinidad and Tobago police service from arresting him pending the outcome of a judicial review of the matter.

Panday, 73, was sentenced to six years in jail to run concurrently and charged TT$20,000 (US$3,000) on each of the three counts for failing to declare a London bank account he held jointly with his wife for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, while he served as prime minister.

Police had failed in their attempt on July 14 to arrest Sharma on the indictable charge of perverting the course of public justice that carries a maximum term of life imprisonment.