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United National Congress (UNC) deputy political leader and candidate for Caroni Central, David Lee, has been cleared of fraud and misbehaviour charges related to tax exemptions on his vehicle as a parliamentarian. On April 7, acting Chief Magistrate Christine Charles upheld a no-case submission by Lee’s attorneys. Charles ruled that the prosecution’s evidence did not cross the threshold to send it to the High Court for trial. Also discharged was firearms dealer Hugh Leong Poi, who was jointly charged with Lee in September 2022 for allegedly conspiring to defraud the State of $1.4 million in motor vehicle taxes. In an immediate response, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, told Newsday, his office intends to apply for a judge’s warrant for the two. This can be done, in law, when the DPP believes there is enough evidence to take the matter before a judge.

A judge will then review the evidence and decide if to issue the warrant, also called a bench warrant, which could see the two being rearrested on the charges and facing the High Court directly. Lee was the former MP for Pointe a Pierre. In a statement shortly after his arrest, Lee described the case as a "political witch-hunt and distraction" orchestrated by the People's National Movement (PNM) Government. He maintained that he owned the vehicle and had declared it in his annual submissions to the Integrity Commission. "Put simply, I have been charged for a vehicle that I am the legal owner of, but this is an issue I am confident, given the proof, will be vindicated in our nation’s court," he said. Speaking on Monday, Lee maintained his innocence.

“Prayers are answered and were answered. I want to say thanks to my family, my parents, and my wife, special people who stood by me. I had fantastic lawyers. I want to say special thanks to our political leader and Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.